SCOTLAND

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is his Department's policy to use  (a) incandescent light bulbs and  (b) LED lights for festive decorations on departmental premises.

David Cairns: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Scotland Office is included in the environmental management policy and programme for the Ministry of Justice and is implementing the Government's UK sustainable action plan, issued on 5 March 2007. This includes the ongoing changeover from general lighting bulbs to energy saving bulbs wherever possible.
	 (b) No specific requirements have been set for decorative Christmas lights.

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department's policy is on the selection of  (a) real and  (b) artificial Christmas trees for his Department's festive decorations; and how real trees are disposed of.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office purchases a real Christmas tree, via an MoJ procurement contract, from a sustainable source and it is collected and recycled as green waste.

Departmental Minimum Wage

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many London-based staff are employed by his Department on the national minimum wage.

David Cairns: All the staff in the Scotland Office are on loan from other Government Departments and the office reimburses those Departments for the costs involved. We do not hold payroll information on the national minimum wage as it applies to such staff.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on special advisers in 2006-07; how much has been allocated for 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1216W.

Members' Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters his Department received from hon. Members and Peers in each session of Parliament since 1997.

David Cairns: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. Information relating to 2007 will be published as soon as it has been collated. The report for 2006 was published on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 101-04WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.

WALES

Barnett Formula

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has been made of the Barnett consequentials arising from the Children's Plan for  (a) Wales and  (b) the Bridgend constituency, broken down by funding area.

Peter Hain: The funding for the Children's Plan announced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCFS) in December 2007, formed part of their comprehensive spending review (CSR 2007) settlement. Barnett Consequentials formed part of the settlement for the Welsh Assembly Government.
	It is for the Welsh Assembly Government to determine the allocation of the block budget reflecting their priorities and policies.

Barnett Formula

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister in Wales on the £20 million Barnett consequential payment from support for disabled children and their families; and whether funding from this payment has been allocated in Bridgend constituency.

Peter Hain: I meet regularly with the First Minister and discuss a wide range of topics including the Welsh Budget.
	It is for the Welsh Assembly Government to determine the allocation of the block budget reflecting their priorities and policies.

Departmental Minimum Wage

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many London-based staff are employed by his Department on the national minimum wage.

Peter Hain: None.

Departmental Redundancies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost was of redundancies in his Department in the 12 months preceding  (a) 30 June 2004,  (b) 30 June 2005 and  (c) 30 June 2006.

Peter Hain: Nil.

Regulation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for which regulators and inspectorates his Department has had responsibility in each year since 1997; what the budget was of each such body in each year; and what the cost to the public purse was of any restructuring of each such body in each year.

Peter Hain: None.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Energy Efficiency

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will take steps to ensure that  (a) heating is not kept on in offices within the Parliamentary Estate at weekends and on other occasions when it is not likely the rooms are being used and  (b) radiators are turned off at weekends and times when they are not used; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: All buildings on the parliamentary estate are under the control of a Building Management System (BMS), together with heating time scheduling to automatically turn on the heating prior to the time office areas are usually occupied and turn it off when the areas are vacated at the end of the day. The BMS is monitored by the Parliamentary Works Services staff around the clock.

Energy Efficiency

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much was spent on heating on the Parliamentary Estate in each of the last four years.

Nick Harvey: It is not possible to determine how much was spent just on heating on the parliamentary estate in each of the last four years. Most of the buildings are heated by natural gas boilers which are not metered separately; most of the gas meters also record the gas used in hot water generation and in some buildings, kitchens, as well as in heating. The heating costs of a small number of buildings are included in the leasing charges and therefore they are not known.
	The amounts spent on gas on the parliamentary estate in each of the last four years are given in the following table:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 455,554 
			 2004-05 380,627 
			 2005-06 584,069 
			 2006-07 793,760 
		
	
	The increase in gas expenditure in the last two years is mainly due to significant increases in the unit price of gas in those years.

Portcullis House: Fires

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many times the occupants of Portcullis House were directed to leave the building due to fire in 2007; on how many such occasions a fire had occurred; what the seat of the fire was in each case where fire occurred; and what steps were taken on each occasion to  (a) identify the person or persons responsible and  (b) minimise the likelihood of reoccurrence.

Nick Harvey: Since 1 January 2007 there have been 13 evacuations from Portcullis House. Three were actual fires. After each fire a full fire investigation was carried out by the Fire Safety Manager.

TRANSPORT

Aircraft: Noise

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimates she has made of the likely mean  (a) nitrogen dioxide and  (b) aircraft noise levels in each London borough under each of the proposed third runway scenarios in (i) 2015, (ii) 2020 and (iii) 2030; and what equivalent estimates she has made if levels of nitrogen dioxide emissions and noise from aircraft remain at average 2007 levels;
	(2)  what the mean  (a) nitrogen dioxide,  (b) PM10 and  (c) aircraft noise levels were in each London borough in (i) 2000 and (ii) the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The consultation document "Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport" and supporting technical reports include data and contours for NO2, PM10 and noise in the Heathrow area for 2002 (the base year for comparative purposes) and future airport development scenarios for 2015, 2020 and 2030.
	Comprehensive information on air quality for each London borough is available via the London Air Quality Network
	(www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/default.asp?la_id=&showbulletins=&width=1024)
	and is updated daily.

Aircraft: Noise

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons were for the time taken to publish her Department's Attitudes to Noise from Aviation Sources report.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This was an especially challenging study given that it was not only reviewing attitudes of people to aircraft noise, but additionally was attempting ground breaking work by using specialist techniques to examine what monetary value should be put on such annoyance.
	The study took longer to complete than originally envisaged primarily to accommodate additional pilot studies—as recommended by independent experts—designed to reinforce the methodology underpinning the main phase of the social survey.
	The results of the study were announced just as soon as the extensive independent peer review process was completed.

Aircraft: Noise

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to provide for independent verification of whether aircraft noise limits are being exceeded at UK airports.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The issue of independent monitoring of breaches of aircraft noise limits is a matter for individual airports as part of their day-to-day operational business.
	I am aware of a number of cases where airports ensure that there is independent consideration of their noise and track keeping systems either by being certified to the ISO 14001 environmental management standard or having environmental policy and management systems subject to regular independent audit. In their environmental guidance manual for airports the Airport Operators Association acknowledge that the demonstration of a good environmental management system through externally certified management system can enable the airport to secure better relationships with customers, investors and the local community.
	In the "Future of Air Transport" White Paper we said that our preference remains that local solutions should be devised for local problems wherever possible, and we expect airport master plans to describe the package of measures that an airport operator intends to apply to deal with local noise problems. We look to individual airport noise and track keeping groups and consultative committees to monitor airport operations such as track-keeping, noise mapping and observance of Continuous Descent Approach (CDA).

Cars: Exhaust Emissions

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will estimate the number of cars in  (a) London and  (b) South East England which have carbon dioxide emissions (i) under 120g/km and meeting the Euro 4 standard for air quality, (ii) under 120g/km and not meeting the Euro 4 standard for air quality, (iii) between 120 and 225g/km and (iv) above 225g/km in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information on the number of vehicles meeting the Euro 4 standard is not held centrally.
	The number of licensed cars over the last five years in London and South East England with carbon dioxide emissions between 120 and 225 g/km and above 225 g/km were as follows:
	
		
			  Thousand 
			   London  South East England (excluding London) 
			   120- 225 g/km  Above 225 g/km  120 - 225 g/km  Above 225 g/km 
			 2002 366 733 
			 2003 532 1,095 
			 2004 594 117 1,253 181 
			 2005 749 141 1,556 215 
			 2006 902 161 1,840 244 
			  Notes: 1. CO2 emissions data are unavailable for vehicles registered before 1 March 2001. In addition, CO2 data are also unavailable for a small number of vehicles registered after this date. 2. CO2 emissions data in the above 225 g/km group are not held separately for 2002 and 2003. 3. Data regarding the number of vehicles meeting the Euro 4 standard are not held centrally.

Cumbrian Coastal Rail Service

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers used the Cumbrian coastal rail service between Barrow-in-Furness and Carlisle in each year since 1997.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport does not hold this information. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) does however publish regional passenger flows in the National Rail Trends Yearbook editions, which are available in the House Library or from their website at www.rail-reg.gov.uk

Departmental Conditions of Employment

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of her Department's staff are employed within each salary band; what the title and role of each position within each salary band is; and for each salary band what the  (a) bonus structure,  (b) retirement provision,  (c) expenses provision,  (d) total expenses incurred in each of the last 10 years,  (e) average age of employee,  (f) number of (i) women and (ii) men and  (g) ethnic composition is.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The current staffing figures for the Department are in the following table.
	
		
			  Level  Male  Female  Total 
			 SCS Level 148 49 197 
			 Grades 6/7 905 297 1,202 
			 All other grades 10,180 7,140 17,320 
			 Total 11,233 7,486 18,719 
		
	
	The default retirement age in the Department is 65, with an option to retire at 60. Staff may continue working after 65 subject to there being an annual business case to remain in service.
	Further analysis of the composition of the Department's workforce is included in the Civil Service statistics collected by ONS from the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (formerly mandate) and the latest published statistics are for the year to 30 September 2006. These can be found in Table H at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/2006CivilServiceStatistics.pdf
	A further breakdown of the information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many illegal immigrants were discovered working for her Department and its agencies in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are no cases of which we are aware of illegal immigrants who have been discovered working for the Department for Transport and its agencies in the last year.

Departmental Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff aged between 16 and 18 were employed by her Department and its predecessors  (a) directly and  (b) through an employment agency in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of these were given time off work to undertake some form of training; and what proportion were provided with some form of training (i) wholly and (ii) partially funded by her Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Generally, nearly all 16 to 18 year-olds employed directly will be given time-off to undertake training and this is funded. However, the detailed breakdown requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Galileo

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the EU Lisbon treaty, once implemented, will have an effect on the EU's Galileo programme.

Rosie Winterton: No.

Galileo

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the treaty basis is for the EU's Galileo programme; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The objectives of the Galileo programme derive from Article 156 of the treaty establishing the European Community.

Galileo: Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the UK  (a) has spent and  (b) is expected to spend on the Galileo satellite navigation project.

Rosie Winterton: The technical development of Galileo is a joint project of the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA). Approximately €1.6 billion has been committed to the development phase of the system.
	European Finance and Transport Ministers have recently agreed a way forward for the funding of Galileo over the 2007-13 financial perspective. Ministers have acknowledged the Commission's estimate, based on a public procurement, of €3.4 billion over the period to 2013 for deployment and initial operation of the system, and have agreed that it should represent a ceiling on expenditure within this financial perspective. It is intended that the deployment and initial operation of Galileo will be taken forward as an EU only programme funded through the EC Budget.
	The UK's directly committed costs as an ESA member state for the ESA element of the design and development phase of the programme is €142 million. As EU member states contribute to the EC Budget as a whole rather than to individual spending programmes within it there is no specific UK contribution to the EC Budget funded element of the development and subsequent deployment costs for Galileo.
	There has been no political discussion of potential funding commitments for the public sector beyond 2013.

Heathrow Airport: Railways

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the number of flights into and out of Heathrow which were to destinations where there is a viable rail alternative in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There is no definition of what constitutes a viable rail alternative to flying. However, according to CAA statistics for 2006 there were 58,915 domestic flights to or from Heathrow carrying just under 6 million passengers. There were 28,550 flights to or from Paris and Brussels, with 2.7 million passengers.

Public Transport

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was made available to support rural public transport in Cumbria in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: We have supported the provision of bus services in rural areas by means of rural bus subsidy grant (RBSG), a grant paid to local
	transport authorities according to numbers living in rural areas. RBSG allocations to Cumbria county council since the grant's introduction in 1998 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Allocation 
			 1998-99 957,384 
			 1999-2000 957,384 
			 2000-01 957,384 
			 2001-02 1,222,506 
			 2002-03 1,399,254 
			 2003-04 1,428,712 
			 2004-05 1,471,573 
			 2005-06 1,529,273 
			 2006-07 1,566,783 
			 2007-08 1,604,293 
			 Total 13,094,545 
		
	
	In addition, we have encouraged the development of innovative solutions to meeting rural transport needs by means of Rural Bus Challenge (RBC) competitions held from 1998 to 2003. RBC awards to Cumbria county council are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Award 
			 1999-2000 722,000 
			 2000-01 800,000 
			 2001-02 542,300 
			 2002-03 805,573 
			 2003-04 482,594 
			 Total 3,352,467 
		
	
	Local authorities also support rural public transport from their own resources, including revenue support grant from central government.
	Rail funding is not split on a county by county basis and therefore we cannot provide a specific figure for rail support for Cumbria.

Public Transport: Concessions

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will extend the national concessionary fare scheme to community transport services.

Rosie Winterton: Those community transport services operated under section 22 of the Transport Act 1985 which are fully available to the public will be eligible. The inclusion of all community transport services would have to be fully funded and careful consideration would have to be given to the impacts on the sector and rural bus services. The Government have a strong track record in extending concessionary travel. However its current priority is to focus on the successful implementation of the national concession in 2008. Local authorities will retain the flexibility to include community transport in their local schemes to reflect local needs and circumstances.

Railways: Standards

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 430W, on railways: standards, how many hits there have been on the website; and if she will place a copy of the study in the Library.

Tom Harris: This information is held by Stagecoach South Western Trains who can be contacted at the following address:
	Stagecoach South Western Trains Limited
	Customer Service Centre
	Overline House
	Blechynden Terrace
	Southampton
	Hampshire
	SO15 1AL

Refuse Collection Vehicles

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the new tachograph regulations will apply to local authorities' refuse collection vehicles.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Vehicles used in connection with door-to-door household refuse collection and disposal are exempt from the EU drivers' hours and tachograph rules provided they are operated by, or under contract to, a public authority.
	In the Department's opinion, such operations would involve the primary collection of waste from household or commercial premises, including the collection of street cleansing waste, where the transport activity remains subsidiary to the collection. The waste collected from commercial premises must be similar to or of the same kind as that collected from households, it must be collected in the same way (i.e. door-to-door), it must not be subject to any special collection regime or special rules, and must be collected using the same vehicles.
	Such operations might involve longer aggregate journeys where there are a number of stops, particularly in rural areas, but such journeys should not normally exceed a radius of 50 kilometres from the place where a vehicle is normally based.

Road Traffic

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the projected traffic numbers are on the M25 approaches to the Dartford Crossing from Essex.

Tom Harris: The projected traffic numbers on the M25 approaches to the Dartford Crossing from Essex for the financial year 2007-08 are 26,576,414 vehicles.

Roads

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the lane restrictions on the M3 at its junction with the M25 came into force; what works were undertaken requiring the restrictions; when those works were completed; for what purpose cameras were installed west of the junction; and when she expects to lift the lane restrictions.

Tom Harris: The trial layout of lane restrictions at Junction 12 of M25 came into force on 5 March 2007.
	The lane restrictions were put in place to improve the flow of traffic from the M25 onto the M3 by re-allocating the available road space more accurately to reflect actual traffic flow. Traffic on the M3 has been restricted to a single lane through this junction to allow two dedicated lanes for traffic joining from the M25.
	The trial was initially implemented for a period of four weeks to confirm the effective operation of the layout. As the trial layout has proved to be effective it has been retained.
	Throughout the new layout a speed limit of 50 mph has been implemented and managed by Surrey Safety Camera Partnership to act as a safety deterrent while the trial is in place.
	An announcement will be made shortly as to whether this scheme is to be made permanent or if lane restrictions are to be removed.

Roads

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the likely levels of road usage on the A595 between Greenodd and Whitehaven by  (a) private vehicles and  (b) freight traffic in each of the next three years.

Tom Harris: The Department has made no specific estimates of road usage, either private or goods vehicles, on this stretch of road for the forthcoming three years. Forecasts of traffic at a regional level are made using the Department's National Transport Model (NTM) and these are published on the Department's web site:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/roadpricing/researchtrafficcongestion.
	The latest forecasts for Northwest Region, which were published in October 2007, indicate that traffic growth on rural A roads between the years 2003 to 2010 will be 9 per cent. for cars, 17 per cent. for light goods vehicles and 2 per cent. for heavy goods vehicles.

Roads: Accidents

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents resulting in a fatality in Copeland involved  (a) drivers under 25 years of age and  (b) drivers within 12 months of passing their driving test in the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of reported fatal road accidents involving drivers aged under 25 in Copeland in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of fatal accidents 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 2 
			 2005 0 
			 2006 1 
		
	
	Information on the length of time that drivers involved in personal injury road accidents have held a driving licence is not available.

Roads: Children

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the merits of roadside pedestrian training schemes for children.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We funded the £9 million Kerbcraft child pedestrian training research project in 64 English local authorities. The project provided training for five to seven-year-olds in three important road-crossing skills. The project was fully evaluated; we have disseminated interim evaluation results which show that trained children made statistically significant improvements to key behaviours, compared to untrained children. We will disseminate best practice to all local authorities.

Roads: Children

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will extend roadside pedestrian training schemes for children on a national basis.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Local authority road safety officers (RSOs) have the responsibility of supporting and co-ordinating road safety education, training and publicity; it is for them to consider how best to meet their local needs.
	DfT will disseminate good practice in roadside child pedestrian training schemes to local authorities and educators, based on, but not exclusive to, the Kerbcraft child pedestrian training scheme as it was piloted and evaluated in England and Scotland between 2001 and 2007.

Roads: Lorries

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to reduce congestion caused by heavy goods vehicles on roads.

Jim Fitzpatrick: To reduce congestion the Department provides direct grant funding to support the use of rail and water freight where appropriate. This year these mode-shift programmes are expected to remove 1.1 million lorry journeys from the roads. The Government also promote efficiency within the road sector through the Freight Best Practice and other programmes.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many community groups she has met to discuss road improvements since her appointment; how many road improvement schemes she has visited since her appointment; and which representatives of road haulage businesses she has met since her appointment.

Rosie Winterton: As part of routine business Ministers will meet a wide range of organisations including Members of Parliament, local authorities and community organisations in relation to road improvement schemes. In addition, during visits to regions, Ministers will also see a number of road schemes that have been completed or which are being promoted by the Highways Agency and local highway authorities.
	Ministers have over recent months met a number of community groups, MPs and local councillors to discuss road improvement schemes, across England.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much was spent on  (a) road building and  (b) road maintenance in Copeland in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how much was made available to support road improvement schemes in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Since 1997, the Department has contributed funding as set in the following table to the following Highways Agency major road schemes on the trunk road network in Cumbria.
	A595 Parton to Lilyhall Improvement Scheme;
	A590 High and Low Newton Bypass;
	M6 Carlisle to Guardsmill Extension;
	A66 Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass; and
	A66 Temple Sowerby Bypass and Improvement to Winderwath.
	
		
			  Highways Agency funding 
			   Cost (£ million) 
			 1997-98 0 
			 1998-99 0 
			 1999-2000 0 
			 2000-01 2.2 
			 2001-02 5.3 
			 2002-03 9.0 
			 2003-04 2.8 
			 2004-05 3.8 
			 2005-06 10.7 
			 2006-07 65.4 
			 2007-08 94.3 
		
	
	Cumbria county council as local highway authority is responsible for local transport in Cumbria including the Copeland constituency. The council is currently promoting the Carlisle Northern Development Route which will be partly funded through the Government's private finance initiative with a departmental contribution of £142.8 million towards the total cost.
	The following table shows the funding through the Local Transport capital settlement that has been allocated to Cumbria county council since 1997. It is for Cumbria to determine how allocations are spent, having regard to its Local Transport Plan.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Capital Highway Maintenance 5.5 9.2 9.8 11.1 13.0 14.7 15.5 18.8 
			 Integrated Block Allocation 2.3 6.0 7.2 5.8 5.7 5.7 5.3 5.3 
		
	
	Prior to 2000-01, the Government funding support for local transport investment by Cumbria county council (including for major schemes and major maintenance) totalled £3.748 million in 1997-98, £2.384 million in 1998-99 and £5.311 million in 1999-2000.
	The following table sets out the total reported revenue and capital spend both by Cumbria county council and Copeland district council on road maintenance in each year between 1997-98 and 2006-07.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Cumbria council  Area of spend  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Total Reported Revenue Spend Cumbria 16.4 16.9 17.6 16.0 16.8 18.1 12.1 15.3 14.6 13.4 
			  Copeland 0.037 0.054 0.032 0.029 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 
			 Total Reported Capital Spend Cumbria n/a 2.4 5.2 2.3 4.4 11.7 10.3 12.3 15.6 13.5 
			  Copeland n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 n/a = Not available.

Roads: Safety

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of UK road safety measures against EU member state benchmarks; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We keep abreast of developments in road safety best practice across the EU (and indeed, the world) on a continual basis, and maintain regular dialogue with our international counterparts. In addition we produce statistics showing how the UK compares with other countries, including other EU member states, as part of the yearly report Road Casualties Great Britain.
	The UK is one of the safest countries in the EU in terms of overall casualties. In 2005 there were 5.5 road deaths per hundred thousand population, which is the fourth lowest in the EU; or 4.9 road deaths per billion passenger-kilometres, which is the second lowest in the EU.

Roads: Tolls

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost has been to date of the consultancy contracts for road pricing policy; and how much is committed for future costs.

Rosie Winterton: Since the then Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Edinburgh, South-West (Mr. Darling) committed in 2004 to lead a national debate on the practicality of road pricing as a highly-effective response to rising congestion, the Department has spent some £6.5 million on consultancy contracts including professional advice on possible technical designs, system architecture and cost modelling. Another £1.0 million is currently contractually committed through to the end of 2007-08.
	Although further consultancy expenditure on road pricing policy is envisaged in 2008-09 and beyond, the amount will depend on our requirements, yet to be determined, and no further expenditure is contractually committed.

South West Trains

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how many  (a) Class 442 and  (b) Class 444 units South West Trains has reduced its main line express rolling stock fleet since the renewal of the franchise; and what percentage of the fleet the reduction represents.

Tom Harris: 24 Class 442 units were taken off lease before the start of the Stagecoach South Western Trains (SSWT) Franchise that commenced in February 2007. The class 442s represented 7 per cent. of the total South West Trains (SWT) fleet under the previous franchise. No Class 442s ran in service under Stagecoach South Western Trains.
	45 Class 444 units are on lease to Stagecoach South Western Trains and no class 444s have been cut from mainline express services.

South West Trains

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make it her policy to require South West Trains to put Class 442 back in service in the interests of passenger comfort.

Tom Harris: No.

Speed Limits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average speed is of London bound traffic on the M25 during the morning and evening peak hours between junctions 26 and 30.

Tom Harris: The average speed of traffic on the M25 from Junction 26 to 30 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Junctions  Peak  Average speed (mph) 
			 26-30 Morning 57 
			  Evening 48 
			 30-26 Morning 52 
			  Evening 54 
		
	
	The data are for weekdays only, for the hours of 7:00 to 10:00 (inclusive) and 16:00 to 19:00 (inclusive).

Sustainable Development: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding her Department has provided to the Sustainability of Land Use and Transport in Outer Neighbourhoods Project.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's overall expected financial contribution to the above project amounts to £136,495, of which £35,000 was funded by ODPM in 2004. To date £120,221 has been spent.

Trains

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the reliability of Reading's Class 458 train coach units; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The miles per casualty (moving annual average) in the period prior to the start of Stagecoach South Western Trains 07/11 (January 2007) for the Class 458s was 14,817 with six units in service.
	The miles per casualty (moving annual average) in the latest period available 08/04 (June/July 2007) for the Class 458s was 14,613 with 30 units in service.
	This demonstrates that the reliability of the units remains steady despite there being more trains diagrams in service and undertaking more mileage.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Frontiers

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all NATO member states with forces serving in Afghanistan recognise the same international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan for military operations.

Des Browne: All contributing nations to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan agree to be bound by the definition of the joint area of operations contained within the operational plan. Consequently the international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is viewed consistently by all these nations.

Afghanistan: NATO

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many NATO personnel are serving in Afghanistan; and what percentage are of  (a) British,  (b) American and  (c) other nationality.

Des Browne: There are currently around 42,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of ISAF. British forces deployed in Afghanistan currently number approximately 7,800. We do not comment on the numbers of deployed troops from other nations, which are matters for the countries concerned; however they are listed with periodic updates on the ISAF website at:
	www.nato.int/isaf/index.html

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the earliest date is by which the Future Lynx could be available in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 14 May 2007,  Official Report, column 515W.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what roles the Army employs native Pashtun speakers.

Des Browne: The vast majority of locally engaged civilians are employed as interpreters. However, local nationals are also employed in the following roles:
	Assistant Chef
	Barber
	EFI Shop Assistant
	EFI Stock Controller
	Guards
	Kitchen Hands
	Labour General Duties
	Mechanics
	Tailors
	Welders
	Cleaners
	Clerks
	While we require our interpreters to speak Pashto, there is no such requirement on locally engaged civilians in other roles.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has conducted any review of the procedures governing to operations of private security companies in Afghanistan since 2001.

Des Browne: holding answer 15 November 2007
	The MOD operates according to the cross-government 'Guidance on Contacts with Private Military and Security Companies', as published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in February 2007. The MOD currently is reviewing the application of this guidance within Defence. The MOD has not carried out any reviews into the procedures governing to operations of private security companies in Afghanistan. Currently, the MOD does not employ any private security companies in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what outreach programmes are being carried out by British forces in Kandahar province.

Des Browne: UK forces carry out a range of outreach projects around the Kandahar airfield that are designed to improve local infrastructure and public health. These vary in size and scope and include the provision of blankets to villages and escorting medical and dental personnel to local villages. Further activity, such as painting of mosques, installation of water pumps and drainage and irrigation projects are planned up until the end of March 2008.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the small arms threat to aircraft in  (a) Helmand and  (b) Kandahar province.

Des Browne: We constantly assess the threat to our aircraft operating in Afghanistan and utilise tactics, techniques and procedures suitable for the threat. I am withholding further information as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) planned and  (b) actual Apache flying hours were per month in (i) Afghanistan and (ii) Iraq in 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information relating to Afghanistan as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces. The UK does not have any Apache helicopters deployed in Iraq.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to send Vector armoured vehicles to Afghanistan; what the Vector's capabilities are; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Vector vehicle has provided a light protected patrol vehicle capability in Afghanistan since April 2007.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters of each type were deployed in Afghanistan in each month since 1 January 2002; what additional deployment of  (a) Sea Kings and  (b) other helicopters is planned for 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Information on the type of helicopters deployed each month prior to January 2006 is not held centrally. I am withholding the number of helicopters deployed as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces. The following table sets out, by month, the helicopter types deployed in-Theatre from January 2006 to December 2007.
	
		
			   Chinook  Lynx  Apache  Sea King 
			 January 2006 Yes No No No 
			 February 2006 Yes No No No 
			 March 2006 Yes No No No 
			 April 2006 Yes No No No 
			 May 2006 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 June 2006 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 July 2006 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 August 2006 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 September 2006 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 October 2006 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 November 2006 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 December 2006 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 January 2007 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 February 2007 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 March 2007 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 April 2007 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 May 2007 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 June 2007 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 July 2007 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 August 2007 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 September 2007 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 October 2007 Yes Yes Yes No 
			 November 2007 Yes Yes Yes Yes 
			 December 2007 Yes Yes Yes Yes

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department uses  (a) civilian and  (b) military personnel during the take-off and landing phase of unmanned aerial vehicles operations in Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence uses both civilian contractors and military personnel during the take-off and landing phase of unmanned aerial vehicles; however, the vast majority of operators are military. Once airborne, all operational mission activity is conducted by military personnel.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement by the Prime Minister of 12 December 2007, Of ficial Report, column 304, on Afghanistan, what capabilities Sea King helicopters would have in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: The Sea Kings will be operating as a support helicopter able to carry troops and equipment and will be tasked accordingly.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement by the Prime Minister of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 304, on Afghanistan, what plans his Department has to recruit and deploy specialists who speak Afghan languages and understand tribal dynamics.

Des Browne: The MOD is already using specialist linguists in support of its operations in Afghanistan and we expect to increase the number deployed over the coming months. In addition to specialist linguists, considerable use is made of local employed civilians in a linguist role.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Statement by the Prime Minister of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 304, on Afghanistan, how many of his Department's personnel serve in the collocated headquarters.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 December 2007,  Official Report, column 777W.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operation

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by whom each soldier killed during the 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment/2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiments' recent operational tour in Helmand Province was replaced in the order of battle.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member.

Airborne Manned Surveillance

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the status is of the Airborne Manned Surveillance urgent operational requirements; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: There have been a significant number of urgent operational requirements relating to surveillance capabilities for manned airborne platforms. Some are in service delivering capability on operations. Others are in progress.
	I am withholding further information as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.

Aircraft Carriers: Finance

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost to his Department is of extending the out-of-service date of  (a) HMS Illustrious and  (b) HMS Ark Royal caused by the delay of the in-service dates of the CVF Carriers from 2012 and 2015 to 2014 and 2016.

Bob Ainsworth: There has been no delay to the future aircraft carriers' in-service dates of 2014 and 2016 as announced on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 865 and no subsequent changes to the out of service dates of the current carriers. These out of service dates have been adjusted as planning assumptions for the introduction of the new aircraft carriers have been developed. There have been no significant extra costs associated with these adjustments.

Aircraft Carriers: Procurement

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current status is of the order for two future aircraft carriers; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 17 December 2007
	As I announced on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 865, we have committed to placing an order for two future carriers. Contracts will be placed with the industrial participants in the Aircraft Carrier Alliance delivering the project, when the joint venture between BAE Systems and VT Group has completed the necessary approvals to allow it to receive a contract. This process is nearing completion.

Animal Experiments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his timetable is for concluding the review into hyperbaric experiments excluding the use of  (a) goats and  (b) any other animals; and which alternative methods are being considered.

Bob Ainsworth: The team of experts has now concluded its stage of the review and its recommendations are to be considered. I will write to the hon. Member when the whole process has concluded.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 394W, on armed forces: deployment, from which units the 200 regular army reinforcements came; and how many of them have been operationally deployed in the last six months.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 18 December 2007
	 The Regular Army reinforcements required by the 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment to provide the particular skill sets and rank structure required in its role as the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team came primarily from other units in 52 Infantry Brigade.
	Units within the brigade have not deployed on an operational tour at either unit or sub-unit level in the last six months. The trawl process used by the Army prevents individuals from deploying on operations within six months of a previous deployment, unless the individual is a volunteer or there is a pressing operational requirement.

Armed Forces: Finance

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much in near cash terms was spent on service retention in each financial year since 2002-03.

Derek Twigg: The cost of Financial Retention Initiatives (additions to basic pay for groups or trades with particular shortages) and Commitment Bonuses (cash payments at particular times throughout the career progression of personnel to encourage a continuance of service) is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 2002-03 44.3 
			 2003-04 63.7 
			 2004-05 73.9 
			 2005-06 58.2 
			 2006-07 74.1 
		
	
	Many disparate activities within the Services could be considered as measures to improve retention, from the improvement of accommodation to the implementation of welfare lines or services. Information about these activities could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  by what means he monitors whether servicemen and women discharged with combat stress receive continuing treatment from the NHS;
	(2)  what arrangement his Department has in place for the transfer of the medical care of discharged service men and women to the NHS.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence is committed to doing all it reasonably can to ensure successful transition to civilian life. On discharge, all ex-service personnel are provided with a medical summary record, and this can be presented at the GP's surgery when they register with a civilian doctor. If the doctor has a requirement for the full medical record, we will provide this upon request.
	For the vast majority of service personnel these procedures are sufficient to ensure a seamless transition to the NHS. However, for those who are medically discharged with significant ongoing physical or mental health conditions, the care is formally handed over to appropriate medical staff by MOD specialists as the patient is medically discharged.
	In the case of physical illness or injury, social work teams at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre or the single service welfare organisations ensure this seamless transfer. For those with ongoing mental illness, the specific Defence Medical Services mental health team who have been caring for that individual will begin a liaison with appropriate civilian healthcare providers (e.g. general practitioner civil mental health team) to ensure that transfer of care and patient history takes place. Additionally, we have specific mental health social workers who manage the individual's wider resettlement issues, liaising with relevant civil agencies such as local housing authorities, financial authorities, service welfare and charitable organisations. These MOD mental health social workers ensure that the individual's transfer into the civilian environment is as smooth as possible.
	Since the beginning of 2007, we have also put in place arrangements for the Department's Veterans Welfare Service to monitor those discharged with a seriously disabling injury; this covers cases of both physical and psychological injury. While this monitoring is primarily focused on welfare matters, the service will also identify sources of medical assistance where appropriate. In cases where there is a mental health issue, this could include if appropriate a NHS/MOD Mental Health Pilot team, the Medical Assessment Programme at St. Thomas' Hospital London, or the charity Combat Stress.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department of health provision for service men and women in the  (a) Army,  (b) Royal Navy and  (c) Royal Air Force was in 2006-07.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held in the format requested.
	The Defence Medical Services (DMS) are headed jointly by the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Health) (DCDS(H) and the Surgeon General (SG). They oversee the work of three separate organisations:
	(a) Defence Medical Services Directorate Headquarters (DMSD HQ);
	(b) Defence Medical Education and Training Agency (DMETA);
	(c) Defence Dental Services (DDS).
	DCDS(H) and SG also produce medical policy for the three single services. However, the Royal Navy (RN), Army and Royal Air Force (RAF) Medical Services are responsible for delivering primary healthcare to their respective service commanders in chief and for providing the requisite medical support on operations.
	The overall expenditure for the DCDS(Health) organisation for the financial year 2006-07 was £268 million. The organisational structure of the DMS in its entirety means that comprehensive primary care and operational costs cannot be provided without disproportionate effort as they are disaggregated and embedded in individual military units' budgets.

Armed Forces: Housing

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of  (a) single and  (b) family defence estate accommodation is classed as (i) category 1, (ii) category 2, (iii) category 3 and (iv) category 4; what criteria he uses for deciding whether accommodation is sub-standard; and what assessment he has made of the findings of the Public Accounts Committee report on managing the defence estate.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 18 December 2007
	Service Families Accommodation (SFA) and Single Living Accommodation (SLA) is assessed by Grade for Charge, while most SFA is also assessed by Standard for Condition. Grade for Charge takes account of an assessment of the physical condition of the accommodation and other factors such as location and closeness to amenities.
	As at 30 June 2007, our worldwide SLA stock of some 165,500 bed spaces was at the following Grade for Charge.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Grade 1 38,100 
			 Grade 2 19,000 
			 Grade 3 28,200 
			 Grade 4 80,200 
		
	
	At 1 April 2007, the worldwide SFA stock of some 70,193 properties is at the following Grade for Charge.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Grade 1 12,430 
			 Grade 2 26,447 
			 Grade 3 22,209 
			 Grade 4 8,720 
			 Below Grade 4 387 
		
	
	Of the 70,193, some 55,548 have also been assessed by Standard for Condition (SfC). These are broken down as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 SlfC 30,223 
			 S2fC 19,016 
			 S3fC 3,954 
			 S4fC 2,355 
		
	
	All occupied accommodation is considered of a habitable standard. The Department currently expects to publish its response to the Public Accounts Committee report on managing the defence estate in February 2008.

Armed Forces: Influenza

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to ensure that sufficient quantities of  (a) influenza vaccines,  (b) anti-virals and  (c) face-masks are held by armed forces operating in (i) Iraq, (ii) Afghanistan and (iii) elsewhere in the world for them to cope with a potential influenza pandemic; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The best method to prevent infection with influenza is by prior immunisation with an appropriate vaccine. The Department of Health (DH) has purchased a quantity of the H5N1 Avian Flu vaccine, which could be offered to key occupational groups when the risk of a pandemic increases as it may give a degree of protection should the pandemic strain be a variant of H5N1. Supplies of this vaccine are being held by the DH on behalf of the MOD and in the event of an outbreak will be deployed by MOD in accordance with DH guidelines.
	When an influenza virus is already circulating, therapeutic antiviral agents can help to lessen the severity of illness, reduce deaths and contain spread. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommends that during an influenza pandemic, patients with a flu-like illness should be treated with zanamivir ("Relenza") or oseltamivir ("Tamiflu"). The DH has arranged for an appropriate stockpile quantity of Tamiflu to be purchased, which is also being held centrally, and includes an allocation for MOD. For armed forces personnel employed at one of MOD's Permanent Joint Overseas Bases (PJOBs), stockpiles of the Tamiflu antiviral have been pre-positioned within the PJOB logistics chain for rapid deployment if necessary. For those on operational deployment in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere, supplies are held by Permanent Joint Headquarters, and will be deployed to theatre as required.
	Supplies of face-masks are already held in-theatre and will be used with other appropriate preventative measures in the event of a pandemic outbreak of influenza.

Armed Forces: Leave

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to reduce leave entitlement during operational tours.

Bob Ainsworth: Armed forces personnel take rest and recuperation (R and R) while on operational tours. R and R is not leave. There are no plans to change the amount of R and R for which personnel are eligible.

Armed Forces: Legal Opinion

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether armed forces chiefs receive allowances for the commissioning of legal advice.

Des Browne: There are no allowances payable to service personnel for the commissioning of legal advice.

Armed Forces: Legal Opinion

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal advice is available to armed forces chiefs for official purposes; and whether such advice was sought before the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Des Browne: Internal legal advice is available to armed forces chiefs from the legal branches of their respective services and from the MOD's Director General Legal Services as appropriate. Any such advice is subject to legal professional privilege.

Armed Forces: Personnel Management

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2007,  Official Report, column 173W, on armed forces: personnel management, how many underpayments there were to Royal Air Force personnel between 1 January 2007 and 30 September 2007 classified by category of error; how many of these underpayments have now been corrected; and what changes have been made to the  (a) payment system and  (b) departmental processes following these errors.

Derek Twigg: From 1 January 2007 to 30 September 2007, other than a Change of Rank (see serial number 6 in the following table), there were no Joint Personnel Administrative system errors which affected RAF basic pay. During this period 1.83 million payments were made. Details of the Royal Air Force underpayments are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Serial  Type of Error  Service  Number  Action taken 
			   January
			 1 Substitution Pay RN and RAF(1) 620 Error corrected. Supplementary payroll run, payments one day late into bank. Average underpayment value of £150 per person. 
			  
			   March
			 2 Flying Pay for Reserve Band Pilot Officers, Navigators and Observers RN and RAF(1) 54 Data and records manually correct and payments made. Average underpayment value of £170 per person. 
			  
			   June
			 3 Incorrect Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) All(1) 90 Error corrected. SMP now being processed correctly. Individuals underpaid by 4 days salary per month. 
			 4 Reservists' Home to Duty Travel (HDT) allowance All(1) 10,752 Error corrected. All outstanding payments made in September. Average value distance related, typically £20 to £30 per person. 
			  
			   September
			 5 Non-Commissioned Officer Flying Pay RAF 12 Error corrected. Refunds of Flying Pay paid in October. Underpayment typically 12 per cent. of that month's salary. 
			 6 Change of Rank RAF 666 Records manually corrected. Automated process refined. All records corrected for October's pay run. Underpayment of promotion uplift, typically 5 per cent. of basic pay. 
			 (1) The numbers of Royal Air Force personnel affected by these issues could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Service personnel who have been underpaid can request cash advances from their units. 
		
	
	Service personnel who have been underpaid can request cash advances from their units.

Armed Forces: Weapons

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which less-than-lethal weapons and non-lethal weapons are available for use by armed forces personnel; how many personnel are qualified for those weapons in each branch of the forces; and how much training is required annually to maintain that qualification.

Bob Ainsworth: The only non-lethal weapons used by our armed forces are the L104 and L67 baton guns. Information on the number of personnel trained in the use of these weapons is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Neither of these weapons is permanently held by units; they are issued to meet the requirements of specific theatres of operation.
	When these weapons are required, nominated personnel will receive appropriate training in their use prior to deployment. Those personnel trained in handling such weapons, who are required to maintain their proficiency, will need to pass a weapons handling test every six months and take part in an annual weapons assessment shoot as is the case for any weapon.
	In addition to baton rounds, these weapons can also be used to fire a CS gas grenade, the L96A1, for law enforcement operations at the discretion of unit commanders in theatre. The necessary instruction is delivered during unit pre-deployment training.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Supercat vehicle is classed as a  (a) protected,  (b) unprotected or  (c) patrol vehicle.

Bob Ainsworth: We have a number of Supacat-based vehicles, used for specialist roles. The most numerous are the All Terrain Mobility Platform (ATMP), and the Mobility-Weapon Mount Installation Kit (M-WMIK) which will enter service shortly.
	The ATMP does not have a specific classification. It was procured as a lightweight load carrying vehicle used by airborne and airmobile units.
	The M-WMIK, like all WMIK vehicles, is designed as a carrier for medium support weapons, providing high levels of terrain accessibility, situational awareness and firepower. It complements the use of Protected Patrol Vehicles.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Afghanistan

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1402W, on armoured fighting vehicles: Afghanistan, whether the 170 Vector vehicles are in addition to the 160 previously ordered.

Bob Ainsworth: We have ordered over 170 Vector vehicles in all, comprising a small number of specialist ambulances in addition to the original order.

Army's Total Fleet Requirement 2007

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Army's Total Fleet Requirement 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: I will arrange for a copy of the most recently endorsed Army's Total Fleet Requirement, from 2006, to be placed in the Library of the House.

AWE Burghfield

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what operational restrictions have been imposed at AWE Burghfield following the report from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

Bob Ainsworth: The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) now requires AWE plc to seek prior authorisation for assembly/disassembly work. Such activities have always been allowed to proceed, with no impact on operations at AWE Burghfield, which remains fully operational and safe.
	It is emphasised that, if NII believed a particular operation were unsafe, it would not allow it to take place, and has appropriate regulatory powers at its disposal to cease operations. AWE Burghfield remains operational as the NII is satisfied that all appropriate licence conditions are being met by AWE plc.

AWE Burghfield

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why AWE Burghfield did not meet the deadline of 27 September to address the shortfalls identified as a result of its periodic review of safety.

Bob Ainsworth: Some of the issues identified by AWE plc as a result of its periodic review of safety required the procurement of specialist equipment where the acquisition time was such that the equipment could not be brought into service by the deadline of 27 September. Consequently, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) has agreed a new programme of work with AWE plc. It is important to note that NII is satisfied that appropriate progress is being made at AWE Burghfield to address the findings of the periodic review of safety.

AWE Burghfield

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safety care shortfalls were identified by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate at AWE Burghfield.

Bob Ainsworth: The safety case issues in question were identified not by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII), but by AWE plc in its own periodic review of safety. These were associated primarily with risk assessment techniques and the clarity of audit trails. A revised safety case addressing these issues was adopted in September 2007 and NII is satisfied that appropriate progress is being made at AWE Burghfield to address the findings of the periodic review of safety.

AWE Burghfield

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what responses he has made to the letter from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate dated 9th May, Annex 1, with particular reference to its conclusions on the safety of continuing to operate at AWE Burghfield; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The letter from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) was to AWE plc and not MOD. MOD officials work very closely with both the AWE nuclear site licensee, AWE plc, and the external regulator, the NII The latter is satisfied that operations at AWE Burghfield are safe and the Department's internal nuclear safety regulator supports this position. No useful purpose could therefore be served by the intervention of the Secretary of State for Defence in matters which are essentially for AWE plc to address with the NII.

AWE Management

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) name,  (b) function,  (c) estimated cost and  (d) projected in-service date is of each of the 23 new build projects in the Atomic Weapons Establishment Site Development Context Plan 2005-15.

Des Browne: The 23 projects included in each of the functions in the Atomic Weapons Establishment Site Development Context Plan 2005-15 are listed in the following table. Where applicable, the names of projects are indicated where they have been finalised. The function of each project correlates with the headings in the plan. Costs not shown are being withheld as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests. Projected in-service dates are shown in five-year bandings in order to avoid prejudice to national security and/or defence interests.
	These facilities are required to support the UK's current warhead in-service. Decisions on whether and how we may need to refurbish or replace this warhead are likely to be necessary in the next Parliament.
	
		
			  Name of project  Cost (£m)( 1)  Function 
			  Projected in-service period 2007-10   
			 Orion Laser 183 Testing/research 
			 IT server buildings (two projects) 30 Computer/communications 
			 New office accommodation Phase 1 71 Office and business support accommodation 
			 New office accommodation Phase 2 — Office and business support accommodation 
			 New office accommodation Phase 3 — Office and business support accommodation 
			 Modular accommodation five buildings 25 Office and business support accommodation 
			 Car park 0.1 Office and business support 
			 Car park — Office and business support 
			 Landscaping — Environmental 
			
			  Projected in-service period 2011-15   
			 Small components interim — Manufacturing/production 
			 High explosives climatic trials — Manufacturing/production 
			 Warhead assembly/disassembly — Manufacturing/production 
			 Systems engineering — Manufacturing/production 
			 Hydrodynamics — Testing/research 
			 High performance computer — Computing/communications 
			 High explosives fabrication — Manufacturing/production 
			 Chemical processing — Manufacturing/production 
			 Landscaping — Environmental 
			  Projected in-service period 2016-20   
			 Uranium components — Manufacturing/production 
			 High explosives assembly for trials — Testing/research 
			 Small components — Testing/research 
			 Laboratory — Testing/research 
			 (1)( )2007-08 prices.

Ballistic Missile Defence

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests he has received from the United States administration to use RAF Menwith Hill as part of the US Missile Defense System since 1st January 2001; and if he will place copies of those requests in the Library.

Des Browne: The US administration's request for missile warning data being routed through RAF Menwith Hill for use in the US missile defense system was received in a classified letter dated 29 June 2007. It is not the practice of the Government to make public the details of correspondence with foreign governments as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice international relations.

Ballistic Missile Defence

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter he received on 29 June 2007 from the United States requesting the use of RAF Menwith Hill as part of the US Ballistic Missile Defence programme.

Des Browne: It is not the practice of the Government to make public the details of classified correspondence with foreign governments as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice international relations.

Bombs

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what definition the Government uses of  (a) smart and  (b) dumb cluster munitions; what munitions it will ban in accordance with the Oslo process; and if he will consider banning all forms of cluster munitions.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 3 December 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Dr. Howells) gave on 4 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1131W.

Contracts

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average rate of increase of indices used in variation of price formulae for fixed price contracts was in each financial year since 1997-98.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provide only at disproportionate cost.

Corporate Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which members of  (a) the Defence Council,  (b) the Defence Management Board,  (c) Defence Equipment and Support,  (d) Defence Estates,  (e) Science, Innovation and Technology TLB and  (f) Central TLB attended the reception hosted by defence equipment manufacturers at the Automobile Club in London on Tuesday 18 September 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence Analytical Services Agency: Forecasts

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library copies of each of the Defence Analytical Service Agency's quarterly 'what if' fuel price forecasts issued since 2001-02;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library copies of each annual review of the Defence Analytical Service Agency's 'what if' fuel price forecast model issued since 2001-02.

Bob Ainsworth: Details of these forecasts are not available for this period as the Defence Analytical Services Agency does not routinely retain this information.

Defence Analytical Services Agency: Publications

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which statistical publications have been produced by the Defence Analytical Services Agency since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The external statistical publications produced by the Defence Analytical Services Agency are available on the DASA website at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk
	Information in some instances goes back as far as 2001 or 2000. UK Defence Statistics, the annual statistical compendium of the Ministry of Defence is available on the website back to 1997.
	Prior to the establishment of the website, the following titles were published in printed form:
	TSP01 - Strength, Intake and Outflow of UK Regular Forces (Monthly)
	TSP02 - UK Armed Forces Full Time Strengths and Requirements (Quarterly)
	TSP03 - UK Armed Forces Trained Strengths and Requirements (Monthly)
	TSP04 - Quarterly Press Release
	TSP05 - Trained Outflow to Civil Life (Quarterly)
	TSP06 - Global Location of UK Regular Forces(1) (Quarterly)
	TSP07 - Reserve Forces (Annual)
	TSP08 - Age Distribution (Annual)
	TSP09 - Rank Structure of UK Regular Forces (Quarterly)
	TSP10 - UK Regular Forces Stationed Location (Quarterly)
	TSP11 - Marital Status by Paid Rank (Annual)
	TSP13 - UK Regular Forces servicemen age on entry(2) (Annual)
	TSP15 - UK Service Personnel on loan to other countries(2) (Quarterly)
	TSP16 - UK Regular Forces disciplinary convictions(2) (Annual)
	TSP19 - Intake to and Outflow from UK Regular Forces (Annual)
	TSP20 - Male Regular Forces outflow by rank(2) (Annual)
	TSP22 - UK Regular Forces comparative statistics(2) (Annual)
	TSP24 - Strength of uniformed medical staff(2) (Annual)
	CPS01 - Civilian Personnel Statistics (Quarterly)
	CPS02 - Regional analysis of resignations for admin and science group staff(1)( )(Quarterly)
	(1) TSP06 was merged into TSP10 from January 2007.
	(2) Publication discontinued.

Defence Analytical Services Agency: Standards

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of all extant Defence Analytical Services Agency service level agreements.

Bob Ainsworth: Yes, copies of Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) extant service level agreements (SLA) are being collated. I will arrange to place copies in the Library of the House when this work is complete.

Defence Equipment and Support Organisation: Private Sector

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many secondees from the private sector are working within the Defence Equipment and Support Organisation at Abbey Wood.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 11 December 2007
	As at 1 December 2007 there were 79 non-MOD employees working at MOD Abbey Wood. The number of these who were secondees from the private sector within Defence Equipment and Support is not recorded separately.

Defence Equipment and Support: Cost Effectiveness

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  in what ways Defence Equipment and Support encourages competition in the supply chain in order to ensure value for money;
	(2)  in what ways the Defence Suppliers Service encourages competition in the supply chain to ensure better value for money.

Bob Ainsworth: The Department seeks effective competition at the prime and sub-contract level, using the Defence Contracts Bulletin and, where appropriate, the Official Journal of the European Union to publicise future requirements including competitive sub-contract opportunities.
	The Ministry of Defence is currently reviewing its policy in relation to supply networks. One of the aims of the policy is to address the issue of competition and value for money in the supply chain.

Defence Equipment: Procurement

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on the programmes for  (a) Type-45 destroyers,  (b) Astute submarines,  (c) MARS and  (d) CVF; and what is expected to be spent on each project in each of the next seven years.

Bob Ainsworth: Expenditure up to 31 March 2007 for the Type 45 Destroyer and the Astute submarine programmes was reported on 30 November 2007 in the National Audit Office's Major Projects Report 2007 and is reproduced in the following table:
	
		
			  Programme  £ million 
			 Type 45 3,477 
			 Astute 2,539 
		
	
	Expenditure up to 31 March 2007 for the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) and CVF programmes is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Programme  £ million 
			 MARS 10.5 
			 CVF 374.9 
		
	
	Detailed spending plans are kept under review.

Defence Estates: Charities

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether his Department charges charitable organisations for public liability insurance for events held on departmental property;
	(2)  what arrangements are made for public liability insurance for events organised by charitable organisations held on his Department's property;
	(3)  if he will make it his policy not to charge charitable organisations for events held on departmental property;
	(4)  whether his Department charges charitable organisations for events held on departmental property; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Under Government Finance Accounting Regulations (Managing Public Money), there are no special arrangements for the treatment of charities, whether service or other. The fact that a charity is to be the main beneficiary of a good or service is not in itself sufficient justification to introduce a special charging regime or to set charges aside. There is the opportunity for abatement of full costs and this decision is on a case-by-case basis taking account of any special circumstances that may apply.
	All privately-run events on departmental property, whether charitable or other are required to be covered by public liability insurance. This requirement is passed on to the organiser who is responsible for ensuring that appropriate cover is in place. Where commercial insurance is either not available or only at disproportionate cost, then organisers are charged under a Departmental Insurance Scheme.

Defence Manufacturers Association

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines his Department issues to staff at  (a) his Department,  (b) Defence Equipment and Support staff and  (c) members of the armed forces on attending events organised by the Defence Manufacturers' Association.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD Statement of Civilian and Service Personnel Policy Annex: Gifts, Rewards and Hospitality issued by the People, Pay and Pensions Agency, provides Departmental guidance to all MOD Civilian staff and Service personnel on the rules governing the way in which individuals should react to offers of gifts, hospitality or other considerations from private companies and defence contractors that have a contractual relationship with the MOD. This will include the Defence Manufacturers Association and associated member companies.
	Defence Equipment and Support (D E and S) have issued additional separate guidelines to all D E and S officials on attendance at external events and conferences.

Defence Suppliers Service

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Defence Suppliers' Service maintains a list of preferred suppliers.

Bob Ainsworth: No.

Defence: Finance

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with HM Treasury on payments for urgent operational requirements;
	(2)  whether urgent operational requirements are paid for from the Treasury Reserve;
	(3)  pursuant to his statement of 12 November 2007 that the defence budget will receive an additional £200 million in 2010-11,  Official Report, column 500, what the revised  (a) near cash resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL),  (b) non-cash resource DEL and  (c) capital DEL is.

Bob Ainsworth: The first £100 million of the additional £200 million in the defence budget for 2010-11 was included in the MOD's capital departmental expenditure limits (DEL) announced in the comprehensive spending review. HM Treasury has agreed that a further £100 million will be added to the defence budget in 2010-11, which will bring the capital DEL funding to £8,971 million in 2010-11. There will be no change to the near cash or the non-cash resource DEL.
	Defence Ministers have frequent discussions with colleagues from HM Treasury on a range of issues.
	Urgent operational requirements are, and will continue to be, paid up front in full from the Treasury Reserve. We have agreed a new overall funding arrangement with HM Treasury for the funding of UORs for the comprehensive spending review period as I set out in my statement to the House on 12 November 2007,  Official Report, column 500. This arrangement is designed to be cost neutral to defence.

Defence: ICT

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the merits of switching to the Defence Information Infrastructure version F computer system from the Defence Information Infrastructure version C; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 17 December 2007
	The long-term aim of the MOD is to implement a single information infrastructure across Defence; the Defence Information Infrastructure Future (DII(F)). The Defence Information Infrastructure Convergence (DII(C)) project was implemented at specific sites to bridge the gap between ageing legacy systems in MOD, which were going out of service, and DII(F) being available.
	DII(F) is being rolled out now to become the primary information infrastructure across the MOD and is replacing many ageing legacy systems and DII(C) as planned. DII(F) will provide common core infrastructure services which meet the security, technical and interoperability demands of the MOD jointly across the business and battle space and will provide access to the applications required to support and enable the delivery of MOD's outputs.

Defence: ICT

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost is of changing from Defence Information Infrastructure version F to Defence Information Infrastructure version C; and how many officials worked on making the change.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 17 December 2007
	Defence Information Infrastructure Convergence (DII(C)) was a precursor infrastructure to Defence Information Infrastructure Future (DII(F)) and was only implemented for a subset of the eventual DII(F) user community. DII(C) was implemented at specific sites to bridge the gap between the ageing legacy systems in MOD going out of service and DII(F) being available. DII(C) will eventually be subsumed by DII(F).

Defence: Lobbying

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance is in place for  (a) his officials and  (b) officials at (i) the Defence Suppliers Service and (ii) Defence Equipment and Support Organisation on meetings with lobbyists employed by defence contractors.

Bob Ainsworth: No specific guidance is issued to MOD officials regarding the meeting of lobbyists employed by defence contractors. However, all MOD Crown servants (including members of the armed forces) are expected to conduct themselves at meetings with representatives of defence contractors in accordance with MOD policy on the acceptance of gifts, rewards and hospitality and the civil service code.

Defence: Procurement

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each of the last four years the principal items of military equipment acquired under the Urgent Operational Requirements procedures which have been transferred to his Department's budget; when they were so transferred; and what proportion of Urgent Operational Requirements acquired equipment in the 2007-08 financial year he expects to be charged to his Department's budget in 2007-08.

Bob Ainsworth: When there is an enduring requirement for Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) equipment, it is brought into the core defence programme. This is usually at the end of the operation. Continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan mean that we have not yet brought a significant number of UORs into core.
	UORs brought into core have only been recorded centrally by MOD since 2005. Principal UORs taken into core since 2005 include enhanced armour and environment modifications for Challenger II; AS90 environmental enhancement to operate in extreme hot, dry conditions; tactical Global Positioning Systems; Helmet Mounted Night Vision Systems; and additional weapons stocks.
	We have not yet taken decisions on UORs to be brought into our core programme in the current financial year as the planning round has not yet concluded.

Defence: Procurement

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on spare parts for equipment by  (a) the Army,  (b) the Royal Navy and  (c) the Royal Air Force in each of the last five financial years.

Bob Ainsworth: The total defence equipment and support (DE&S) expenditure on capital spares additions in each of the last four financial years (to the nearest £ million) is provided in the following table. Individual capital account codes did not exist within the Department's financial systems prior to Financial Year 2003-04. Previous information for Financial Year 2002-03 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 581 
			 2004-05 439 
			 2005-06 385 
			 2006-07 409 
		
	
	The breakdown by Front Line Command for Financial Years 2005-06 and 2006-07 is given in the following table. Information broken down for Financial Years 2003-04 and 2004-05 (to the required accuracy) could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Service  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Army 82 109 
			 Royal Navy 45 55 
			 Royal Air Force 248 228 
			 Joint service/others 10 17 
			 Total 385 409 
		
	
	It should be noted that these figures do not include any expenditure for non-balance sheet low value spare parts for equipment.

Defence: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria have to be fulfilled for a would-be defence supplier to become a prime contractor; and how a decision on the matter is made.

Bob Ainsworth: In response to business need, the Department assesses any potential supplier's eligibility against a number of standard objective criteria including capability, quality, financial and legal status, organisation, and supply chain management. The potential supplier is also assessed against project-specific criteria pertinent to the particular requirement.

Departmental Assets

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what total value of  (a) land and  (b) facilities is surplus to his Department's foreseeable purposes in Northern Ireland; and what plans he has to dispose of such assets.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence keeps its estate, including that in Northern Ireland, under constant review to meet present and planned future requirements. Land and property that is no longer required is disposed of as quickly as possible.
	It is the Department's normal policy to dispose of such surplus assets at market value in accordance with the guidance set out in "Managing Public Money".
	Sites are disposed of by means of a competitive process in order to ensure best value for defence. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to release expected receipts as it might impact on future negotiations with potential purchasers.
	A list of all sites currently in disposal is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Assets

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total value of  (a) land and  (b) facilities gifted, donated or loaned to local community initiatives by his Department was in each region of the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Derek Twigg: The gifting of land and facilities over £100,000 (£250,000 since 1 April 2005) requires the approval of HM Treasury and Parliament. Details of gifts below that level are not held centrally. Since 1997 the following value of gifts of land and facilities, in support of local community initiatives, have been reported in the departmental accounts following approval by Parliament:
	
		
			   £ million 
			  Northern Ireland  
			 2002-03 6.4 
			 2003-04 13.0 
			   
			  South East  
			 2005-06 0.35 
		
	
	The MOD does not loan facilities for local community initiatives except in so far as these constitute welfare facilities for the armed forces. Any land and facilities that are surplus to defence requirements are disposed of in accordance with "Managing Public Money" issued by HM Treasury.

Departmental Assets

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what total value of his Department's  (a) land and  (b) buildings was sold in each region of the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Derek Twigg: This Department does not keep a separate record of the value raised from the sale of land and buildings in each region of the UK and such a breakdown could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the total accrued disposal receipts for each year since 1998-99 (the earliest year available) were as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 1998-99 59 
			 1999-2000 301 
			 2000-01 225 
			 2001-02 185 
			 2002-03 279 
			 2003-04 207 
			 2004-05 212 
			 2005-06 258 
			 2006-07 394 
		
	
	These figures are taken from the Defence Estates annual reports and accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Assets

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanism exists for liaison between his Department and the Northern Ireland Office when considering disposal of departmental  (a) land and  (b) buildings in Northern Ireland.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is required to obtain market value when disposing of surplus assets. In Northern Ireland all surplus MOD assets are advised to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFM/DFM) at the earliest opportunity. OFM/DFM circulates details to Northern Ireland Government Departments.
	We have also committed to adhere to the "clearing house" process used by Northern Ireland Government Departments under which details of surplus MOD assets are circulated to Northern Ireland Government Departments and agencies. This process is managed by the Central Advisory Unit (CAU) of Land and Property Services. Northern Ireland Government Departments and agencies may register interest through the CAU who notifies MOD accordingly.

Departmental Assets

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account is taken of community cohesion when considering the disposal of departmental  (a) land and  (b) buildings in Northern Ireland.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence is required to obtain market value when disposing of surplus assets, and follows procedures laid down in "Managing Public Money' and particular processes applicable to Northern Ireland. The Department works closely with the Northern Ireland Office when disposing of surplus assets to allow other Northern Ireland Government Departments and agencies to express an interest. We also work closely with the local authorities and other key stakeholders when considering its disposal strategy and the most appropriate alternative use, taking into account the requirements of the local community. This will often include an assessment of development and regeneration opportunities through the preparation of a planning brief or outline planning application which can be taken forward by prospective purchasers.

Departmental Assets

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider gifting his Department's land and facilities to local communities to promote inter-community cohesion initiatives.

Derek Twigg: Land and facilities that are surplus to defence requirements are disposed of in accordance with HM Treasury's "Managing Public Money" guidance. Any gifting with a value in excess of £250,000 requires both Treasury and parliamentary approval.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many air miles were travelled by Ministers in his Department in each year since 2000; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result;
	(2)  how many air miles were travelled by  (a) the Secretary of State and  (b) other Ministers in his Department on short haul flights over the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result of these flights.

Derek Twigg: Since 1999 the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the current financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. From next year, the list will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	All central Government ministerial and official air travel has been offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases certified emissions reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
	In addition, offsetting the flights of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development, and the Prime Minister has been backdated to 1 April 2005.
	A list of Government Carbon Offsetting Fund members, their emission figures and what activities they have offset through the fund is available online at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/carbonoffset/government.htm

Departmental Coordination

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2007,  Official Report, column 309W, on Departmental Coordination, on what date his Department was consulted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Des Browne: I refer my right hon. Friend to my answer of 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 395W.

Departmental Equality

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department  (a) in total and  (b) on staff costs on promoting equality and diversity in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many people are employed by his Department for this purpose.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Winter Supplementary Estimates (HC 29), for what reasons he plans to transfer £70 million from voted capital departmental expenditure limit to non-voted near cash resource departmental expenditure limit; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The transfer of £70 million from voted capital departmental expenditure limit to non-voted near cash resource departmental expenditure limit relates to a planned increase in the cash release of provisions. Under arrangements agreed in the 2004 spending review, increases in the cash release of provisions (which score as non-voted DEL) are offset against voted near cash provision.

Departmental Finance

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will break down his Department's RfR1 near cash resource expenditure by  (a) value and  (b) standard industrial classification for each financial year since 2001-02;
	(2)  if he will break down his Department's RfR1 capital expenditure by  (a) value and  (b) standard industrial classification for each financial year since 2001-02.

Bob Ainsworth: Estimates of aggregate MOD cash expenditure in UK industry and commerce, by standard industrial classification (SIC), are published in the annual United Kingdom Defence Statistics, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. This analysis, however, is not fully compatible with the Treasury RfR framework, as it measures only cash expenditure and excludes non-cash costs such as depreciation; it includes both capital and resource expenditure; and it does not cover expenditure overseas incurred by the Department. It is likely also to include expenditure which may be claimed under RfR2 (Conflict Prevention). Identification of RfRl near cash expenditure by SIC could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of the Freedom of Information requests his Department has received in the last 12 months were answered with  (a) the information requested,  (b) a refusal and  (c) a partial disclosure (i) within 20 working days and (ii) after more than 20 working days.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence received 3,103 Freedom of Information requests in the period from October 2006 to September 2007, the most recent 12-month period for which statistics are available. Of these requests, 2,571, 83 per cent., were answered within 20 working days. 532 requests (17 per cent.) required longer than 20 working days to answer. However, in 148 of these cases (5 per cent. of the total received), the delay was authorised by a legitimate extension of the 20-working day time limit, permitted under the Freedom of Information Act; the Department, therefore, answered 88 per cent. of requests for information 'in-time'.
	Of the total requests for information received, 2,639 were deemed 'resolvable', i.e. it was possible to make a substantive decision on the release of the information sought, as distinct from those cases where the Department does not hold the information requested, or where the request is withdrawn or altered by the applicant. 1,810 (69 per cent.) of these resolvable requests were answered in full with all the information requested, 354 (13 per cent.) requests were refused in full; while 224 (8 per cent.) requests were answered by partial disclosure of the information requested. The remaining 10 per cent. of requests had not received a response at the time these statistics were collected, which is done by quarterly report.
	
		
			  Status of FOI requests by number and percentage for the period October 2006 to September 2007 
			  Status  Number  Percentage 
			 Information released (1)1,810 69 
			 Refusal 354 13 
			 Partial release 224 8 
			
			 Within 20 working days 2,571 83 
			 >20 working days (2)532 17 
			 'In-time' 2,719 88 
			 (1 )Of 2,639 resolvable requests.  (2) 148 permitted extension.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the office costs for his Department's special advisers for 2007-08 are expected to be, including costs of support staff; and how many full-time equivalent civil servants work in support of such special advisers.

Derek Twigg: One civil servant is employed at the Ministry of Defence to provide dedicated support of a non-political nature to the special advisers in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. The pay band for the post range between £24,700 and £33,250 per annum.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on special advisors in 2006-07; how much has been allocated for 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-50WS.

Departmental Pay

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Departmental employees were paid  (a) over £60,000 and  (b) over £100,000 per annum, inclusive of bonuses, in the most recent financial year for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: The numbers of civilian staff in the Ministry of Defence and its Agencies who received taxable pay (including salary, allowances and bonuses) of over £100,000 in financial year 2006-07 was some 70; the number who received over £60,000 was some 1,175. The nearest equivalent figures for members of the armed forces relates to salary levels including bonuses and specialist pay in the current year, where some 550 armed forces personnel receive salaries in excess of £100,000, and some 6,100 receive salaries in excess of £60,000.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure in near cash terms was in each financial year since 2000-01 as listed in his Department's resource account code hierarchy.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Ex-servicemen: Military Decorations

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in each London constituency have received the veterans' badge in each of the last three years.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held in the format requested and can be provided only at disproportionate costs. However, we have identified from our records that a total number 3,612 badges have been issued to residents in the London area.

Hazardous Substances: Fort Halstead

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for the removal and transport of hazardous materials from Fort Halstead in Kent; what such materials have been removed from the site in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The Fort Halstead site is owned by QinetiQ but leased to the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), who have a 90-year lease. The transportation of hazardous material from the site is managed by the Dstl Facilities Management Provider, Serco.
	Over the last five years the hazardous materials transported have included sealed radioactive materials, explosives and a variety of toxic or harmful chemicals. All of these materials have been transported following detailed risk assessments and in accordance with UK legislation, e.g. the use of controlled waste administrators and pre-qualified licensed carriers, and have been moved only to approved/licensed sites. In addition to this, as a duty of care, both Dstl and Serco have conducted sample audits of the process.

Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) planned and  (b) actual average flying hours for each helicopter type in the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy and (iii) Royal Air Force was in each month of 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: Total planned and actual flying hours for each helicopter type in each of the three services from January to November 2007 are shown in the following tables:
	
		
			  Army Air Corps 
			   Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov 
			  Apache AH1
			 Planned hours 801 901 901 1,119 1,259 1,259 1,259 839 1,398 1,259 1,119 
			 Total flown 1,165 948 832 839 1,130 979 1,202 838 918 1,020 1,132 
			 
			  Agusta A109
			 Planned hours 80 90 90 80 90 90 90 60 100 90 80 
			 Total flown 41 48 97 75 109 67 95 91 108 134 82 
			 
			  Gazelle
			 Planned hours 898 1,011 1,011 1,186 1,334 1,334 1,334 889 1,482 1,334 1,186 
			 Total flown 749 888 1,291 935 1,151 1,147 1,113 1,012 1,193 1,119 871 
			 
			  Lynx Mk 7 and 9
			 Planned hours 1,480 1,666 1,666 1,152 1,296 1,296 1,296 864 1,440 1,296 1,152 
			 Total flown 1,772 1,583 1,825 1,665 1,702 1,514 1,556 937 1,555 1,674 1,522 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Navy 
			   Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov 
			  Lynx Mk3
			 Planned hours 590 590 590 200 555 555 555 200 560 555 555 
			 Total flown 732 617 463 443 569 568 449 318 707 684 599 
			 
			  Lynx Mk 8
			 Planned hours 590 590 590 200 555 555 555 200 560 555 555 
			 Total flown 571 497 564 495 515 542 479 245 446 430 489 
			 
			  Merlin Mk 1
			 Planned hours 880 880 1,076 590 804 965 859 322 1,073 1,234 1,126 
			 Total flown 511 522 575 632 691 736 624 293 651 704 519 
			 
			  Sea King Mk 4 and 6
			 Planned hours 1,114 1,003 781 909 1,023 1,023 1,023 682 1,137 1,023 909 
			 Total flown 1,124 996 1,033 839 1,044 1,031 896 735 998 992 923 
			 
			  Sea King Mk 5
			 Planned hours 441 441 439 294 441 441 441 294 441 441 441 
			 Total flown 340 342 450 351 325 410 409 286 375 458 320 
			  Sea King Mk 7
			 Planned hours 387 387 366 258 387 387 387 258 387 387 387 
			 Total flown 221 217 239 447 577 285 283 39 262 230 259 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Air Force 
			   Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov 
			  Chinook HC2/2a
			 Planned hours 1,000 1,125 1,125 1,000 1,125 1,125 1,125 750 1,250 1,125 1,000 
			 Total flown 1,053 997 1,140 961 1,189 1,075 1,233 1,179 1,167 1,255 1,087 
			 
			  Merlin HC Mk 3( 1)
			 Planned hours 403 520 578 473 414 473 503 532 503 562 590 
			 Total flown 445 378 505 522 525 517 387 362 477 486 503 
			 
			  Puma HC Mk 1
			 Planned hours 963 1,084 1,083 963 1,084 1,084 1,084 722 1,204 1,084 963 
			 Total flown 999 837 1,059 937 835 1,026 977 759 791 782 815 
			 
			  Sea King HAR 3/3a
			 Planned hours 900 900 900 900 900 900 900 900 900 900 900 
			 Total flown 753 757 839 915 835 802 907 843 835 742 NYA 
			 NYA = not yet available. (1) Includes the first of the newly procured Merlin Mk 3 from November 2007. 
		
	
	Planned hours show the funded annual flying task for each aircraft type as agreed in annually agreed customer supplier agreements (CSA) between the Front Line Commands and Defence Equipment and Support. Actual hours flown includes both those flown in the UK for training as well as those deployed on operations. Hours flown in excess of the CSA on operations are funded by the Conflict Prevention Fund.
	There is no requirement to hold data on average flying hours. CSA calculations are based on the total amount of flying hours that can be supported by the integrated project teams for a given aircraft type and are not broken down by individual airframe.

Helicopters: Procurement

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated average cost is of each of the Future Lynx helicopters to be delivered under the contract with the Finmeccanica group.

Bob Ainsworth: The value of the contract placed with Finmeccanica is approximately £l billion (excluding VAT). This cost is for the development and manufacture of 70 aircraft.

Helicopters: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training exercises were conducted by Apache and Chinook helicopter crews in each of the last five years; and what the  (a) location and  (b) type was of each.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of collective training exercises supported by both Apache and Chinook helicopter crews was seven in 2005, 13 in 2006 and 18 in 2007. Records are not held for collective training exercises conducted prior to 2005. The location and type of each exercise are shown in the following table. The number of collective training exercises supported by Chinook only and Apache only will take longer to collate. I will write to the hon. Member when this information is available. Aircrew training flights are too numerous to quantify.
	
		
			   Exercise details  Location 
			 2005 Exercise Iron Storm - 3 (UK) Division live firing Exercise. UK wide. 
			 2005 Qualified Helicopter Training Instructor Flying Phase - Air Crew Training Exercise. Scotland. 
			 2005 3 times Exercise Bowman Vanguard - Fleet Collective Training Exercise UK wide. 
			 2005 Exercise Bowman Ord - Fleet Exercise part of HMS Ocean sea trials. Sea trials. 
			 2005 Exercise Argonaut - Fleet Collective training Exercise. UK Wide. 
			 2006 Exercise Herrick Eagle - 16 Brigade Herrick 4 Mission Rehearsal Exercise. Salisbury Plain Training Area and Sennybridge Training Area. 
			 2006 Exercise Southern Raider - 3 Commando Brigade Mission Rehearsal Exercise Salisbury Plain Training Area and Sennybridge Training Area. 
			 2006 5 times OPTAG (Operational Training and Advisory Group) confirmation Exercises 3 Commando Brigade units Herrick 5 Pre Deployment Training . Stanford Training Area. 
			 2006 Exercise Iron Storm - 3 (UK) Division Capstone Combat Services Support Exercise for Engineer Regiments' Herrick 5 Pre Deployment Training. UK Wide. 
			 2006 5 times OPTAG confirmation Exercises - 12 Division units Herrick 6 Pre Deployment Training. Stanford Training Area. 
			
			 2007 Exercise Desert Dragon - 12 Division Herrick 6 Mission Rehearsal Exercise Salisbury Plain Training Area and Sennybridge Training Area. 
			 2007 Exercise Pashtun Ace - 12 Division Close Combat Attack concentration as part of Herrick 6 Pre Deployment Training. Otterburn Training Area. 
			 2007 4 times Ex Druid's Dance - 52 Brigade Herrick 7 Pre Deployment Training. Sennybridge Training Area. 
			 2007 5 times OPTAG Confirmation Exercises - 52 Brigade units Herrick 7 Pre Deployment Training. Stanford Training Area 
			 2007 Exercise Desert Dragon - 52 Brigade Herrick 7 Mission Rehearsal Exercise. Salisbury Plain Training Area and Sennybridge Training Area. 
			 2007 Exercise Eagle's Eye - 16 Brigade Airborne Task Force validation Exercise. Salisbury Plain Training Area. 
			 2007 5 times OPTAG Confirmation Exercises - 16 Brigade units Herrick 8 Pre Deployment. Training on Stanford Training Area.

Influenza: Disease Control

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what documents dealing with contingency arrangements for an influenza pandemic have been  (a) prepared by and  (b) commissioned by his Department since 1 March 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Since October 2005 the MOD has been developing a generic Pan Defence Pandemic Flu Planning Framework document. This brings together activities which, for the most part, will be undertaken by Departmental operational commands and business units. In June 2006 the Business Continuity Policy team developed a generic influenza exercise scenario with the aid of the Health Protection Agency (HPA). Additionally, the Defence Medical Services Department (DMSD) has issued periodic policy guidance to the Single Services, designed to inform defence medical professionals, beginning in October 2005 when "Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic in UK" was issued. In January 2006 DMSD produced "Use of Influenza Vaccines and Anti-virals in the event of an Influenza Pandemic", and, in February 2007, "Pandemic Influenza—Infection Control Guidelines for Military Settings" was issued, produced by DMSD in collaboration with the HPA.
	No external flu pandemic studies or reports have been commissioned.

Iran: Sequestration of Assets

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government will take steps to sequester assets of the government of Iran in the UK to the value of the British military equipment which was seized in  (a) 2004 and  (b) 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: We will continue to pursue diplomatic means for the return of the boats and equipment seized by Iran in 2004 and 2007.

Iraq Conflict: Legal Opinion

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 840W, on Iraq conflict: legal opinion, whether such advice was commissioned using resources from the public purse.

Des Browne: No private legal advice was sought prior to the invasion of Iraq by any of the then armed forces Chiefs of Staff.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 481W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, what the estimated cost of providing medical services to employees of private military and security companies under Government contract in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan was in each of the last five years; what estimate he has made of the cost of procuring such services from the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 28 November 2007
	In the last five years, the Ministry of Defence has contracted only two private military security companies both in 2007, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. Available records do not show any routine or emergency treatment having been provided to employees of these companies. In order to confirm this categorically a trawl of all medical records would have to be undertaken, which would require a level of effort generating disproportionate cost to the benefit of the information provided.
	There has been no estimate done on the cost of procuring such services for PMSCs from the private sector.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many convoy escort missions were conducted by British forces along Military Supply Route Tampa in Britain's area of operations in each month in 2007.

Des Browne: The Military Supply Route Tampa is one of numerous routes that British forces can use to conduct convoy missions.
	I am withholding further information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.

Legal Costs

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent, in near cash terms, on  (a) legal fees,  (b) legal fees incurred in relation to land acquisition/disposal and  (c) legal fees incurred in relation to compensation payments, as listed in his Department's resource account code hierarchy, in each financial year since 2000-01.

Bob Ainsworth: The total resource costs of the expenditure items are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  Legal fees  Legal fees—land acquisition and disposal  Legal fees—compensation payments 
			 2000-01 38.7 0.9 28.9 
			 2001-02 1.4 1.0 0.4 
			 2002-03 2.0 1.5 (1)— 
			 2003-04 3.0 0.4 (1)— 
			 2004-05 5.2 1.0 1.6 
			 2005-06 21.1 0.8 3.9 
			 2006-07 7.7 8.4 7.6 
			 (1) While the overall Operating Cost Statement (OCS) was correct, the balance relating to this resource account code in 2002-03 and 2003-04 incorrectly excluded expenditure to be offset by the utilisation of provisions resulting in an erroneous credit balance. (An estimate of the expense for the legal fee obligation is taken through the OCS in the year the obligation arises and held as a provision. When the obligation becomes a liability and the provision is utilised, a charge is made to the OCS and the provision is used to offset the expense in the OCS). The detailed data required to restate the correct expenditure for this specific resource accounting code have been archived and the restatement can be undertaken only at disproportionate cost. 
		
	
	Near cash expenditure is not separately identified in the final resource accounts or the centrally held supporting records. Total resource costs have therefore been provided; however it is unlikely that there are any non cash costs attributed to the expenditure items which would result in the near cash expenditure being different from the resource expenditure. The creation of legal provisions is attributed to a different resource account code to those listed in the question.

Members: Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many letters his Department received from hon. Members and Peers in each session of Parliament since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. Information relating to 2007 will be published as soon as it has been collated. The report for 2006 was published on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 101-04WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.

Mercian Regiment

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the peace establishment was of the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment before its deployment to Afghanistan; what the strength was of the Battalion; how many reinforcements to the Battalion were received from  (a) the regular Army,  (b) the Territorial Army and  (c) the regular Army Reserves; how many of all ranks were (i) left behind on recruitment duties, (ii) physically unfit to deploy and (iii) left behind in barracks to form a rear party; and what the Battalion's battle casualty replacement policy was.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 18 December 2007
	 Prior to deploying to Afghanistan in March 2007, the peace time establishment of the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment was 559; the battalion's strength was 466; it received additional reinforcements of 58 Regular Army and 17 Territorial Army Personnel; and no reinforcements from the Regular Army Reserves. Two individuals remained on recruitment duties and 75 soldiers remained in barracks to form the rear party, 37 of whom were unfit to deploy.
	The policy on battle casualty replacement was to utilise appropriately trained deployable personnel, who would be received into the unit's rear party. In order to rectify a deficiency arising in a specific skill, replacements would be requested from other units in theatre or if necessary an individual would be deployed forward from the United Kingdom or British forces in Germany.

Military Aircraft

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution he expects the purchase of a sixth C-17 Globe Master to make to his Department's heavy lift strategy.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 10 December 2007
	The sixth C-17 will deliver a significant increase in our ability to transport personnel and equipment, including large cargo, over strategic distances, particularly in support of our current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents have taken place involving  (a) Puma,  (b) Merlin,  (c) Chinook and  (d) Sea King RAF helicopters since 2001; how many British service personnel were killed or wounded as a result in each case; and whether (i) equipment failure and (ii) pilot error were contributory factors in each case.

Bob Ainsworth: Accidents involving the requested types of helicopter, in which the aircraft suffered category 4 (major damage, repairable off-site) and category 5 (write-off) since 2001 are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Date  Aircraft  Location  Injured  Killed 
			 9 April 2001 Puma XW200 Kosovo 1 2 
			 16 August 2001 Sea King XZ599 RAF St. Mawgan 2 — 
			 21 January 2002 Puma XW214 Ballykelly, NI 1 — 
			 16 March 2002 Puma(2)( )XW227 Jonesborough, NI (1)3 — 
			 19 July 2004 Puma XW221 Basra, Iraq 2 1 
			 10 April 2006 Chinook(l) ZA654 Afghanistan — — 
			 1 April 2007 (Puma(1) XW211 Iraq — — 
			 1 April 2007 Puma(1)XW218 Iraq — 2 
			 8 August 2007 Puma(2) ZA934 Catterick, N. Yorkshire 9 3 
			 20 November 2007 Puma(2) ZA938 Iraq 2 2 
			 (1) These accidents are still under investigation. (2) In addition, there was one civilian passenger injured in this incident. 
		
	
	There have been no accidents involving Merlin helicopters since 2001.
	Where the cause has been determined, none of the accidents has been attributed to major equipment failure.

Military Bases: Carbon Emissions

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the total cost incurred by military bases in the UK in relation to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Derek Twigg: On 12 July 2007, I placed in the Library of the House a table detailing the Ministry of Defence (MOD) costs for 2005 of participating in the first year of Phase 1 of the EU European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
	The table details MOD sites registered in the scheme, the number of free allowances, actual carbon dioxide emissions, scheme administration costs and additional allowance costs.
	Details of the cost to MOD of the second year of Phase 1 of the scheme, are currently being compiled and a table will be placed in the Library of the House when this is complete.
	Phase 2 of the EU ETS will commence on the 1 January 2008. As details have yet to be made available for the operation of the scheme it is not currently possible to compile a meaningful estimate of the likely cost to MOD of participating in Phase 2.

Minimum Wage

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many London-based staff are employed by his Department on the national minimum wage.

Derek Twigg: None.

Ministerial Duties

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what average percentage of his working week has been taken up by his duties as Secretary of State for Defence.

Des Browne: holding answer 3 December 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan) on 3 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 557-60.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the job descriptions of his special advisers.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-50WS.

National Identity Register

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to make use of data on the national identity register when it is established; and what the estimated cost to his Department of that use is.

Derek Twigg: The MOD will be working with the Home Office prior to the introduction of the national identity scheme to establish how identity information held on the proposed national identity register might be used to provide easier access to MOD's services for our customers. It is too early in the process to establish the detailed costs and benefits.

Nimrod Aircraft

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the review into the Nimrod conducted by Mr. Charles Haddon-Cave QC to be published.

Des Browne: I have nothing to add to the written ministerial statement I made in the House on 13 December 2007,  Official Report, column 50WS. It is too early to speculate on a possible timescale for publication.

Nuclear Submarines

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 13th December 2007,  Official Report, column 778W, on nuclear submarines, what safeguards are in place to prevent UK submarine commanders launching a nuclear attack on their own initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: There are a number of technological and procedural safeguards built into the UK's nuclear deterrent to prevent an unauthorised launch of its Trident missiles. Any launch of a Trident missile would require a large proportion of the submarine's crew to act in concert. I am withholding further details as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of the decommissioning of the Vanguard Class submarines; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Nuclear decommissioning costs are the subject of current work within the Department. When this work is complete, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Nuclear Weapons: Finance

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much he plans to spend on a replacement for the UK strategic nuclear deterrent in each year of procurement; and whether this spending is included in the overall allocation for his Department announced as part of the conclusions of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 1357-58W, to the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey) and chapter D8 of the Comprehensive Spending Review White Paper (CM 7227).
	Spending plans for 2011-12 and beyond will be set as part of the Government's spending review process.

Official Engagements

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his official engagements were between 1 and 21 November 2007.

Des Browne: My official engagements as Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary of State for Scotland, throughout the period 1 November to 21 November, included various meetings in London and Scotland, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and Scotland Office.
	On Thursday 1 and Friday 2 November I was overseas visiting Service personnel serving in Iraq. On Monday 5 November I met with the HBOS in Scotland. On Tuesday 6 November I attended the State Opening of Parliament. On Wednesday 7 November I hosted the French Defence Minister for bilateral discussions in London. On Thursday 8 November I attended the British Torch of Remembrance ceremony at Westminster Abbey and met with National Grid. On Friday 9 November I visited Diageo with my hon. Friend the Member for Ochil and South Perthshire (Gordon Banks). On Saturday 10 November I attended the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance 2007 event and, on Sunday 11 November, I attended the Remembrance Ceremony at the Cenotaph. On Monday 12 November I met EU ambassadors in London, hosted by the Portuguese ambassador, before attending the Defence debate in the House of Commons. On Tuesday 13 November I met separately with the National Farmers Union Scotland and Scottish Financial Enterprise. On Wednesday 14 November I attended a Sailor, Soldier, Airmen and Families Association reception. On Thursday 15 November I hosted the Romanian Defence Minister for bilateral discussions in London. On Friday 16 November I hosted a reception in Edinburgh for Polish National Day. On Sunday 18 and Monday 19 November I was in Brussels attending a meeting of EU Defence Ministers. On Tuesday 20 November I met with The Crown Prince of Bahrain.

Official Engagements

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what his official engagements were from 22 to 28 November;
	(2)  what his official engagements were from 22 November to 10 December.

Des Browne: Throughout the period 22 November to 10 December, I had various meetings in London and Scotland, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and Scotland Office. On 22 November, I had a meeting with the Columbian Defence Minister and a meeting with the Turkish Chief of Defence Staff. On 23 November, I addressed the State of the City Economy Conference in Glasgow. On 28 November, I answered oral questions for the Scotland Office in the House of Commons. On 29 November, I attended a reception to mark the home coming of 12 Brigade from Iraq. On 1 December, I visited the Longannet Power Station in Alloa and participated in the Scottish Interfaith Week Come and Play the Diversity Game event in Edinburgh. On 3 December, I answered oral Defence questions in the House of Commons. On 4 December, I met with service families about the Board of Inquiry findings into the crash of the RAF Nimrod XV230 before attending the House to make a statement about the same. On 6 December, I gave oral evidence to the AFPRB and in the evening I attended a Sailor, Soldier, Airmen and Families Association carol service at the Guards' Chapel, Wellington Barracks. On 8 December, I met with representatives from the services charity "Forward Edge Battle Area". Between 7 and 10 December, I was overseas visiting service personnel in Afghanistan.

Operating Costs

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's RfR 1 operating cost statement (level 4 view) for each financial year since 2001-02.

Bob Ainsworth: The Departmental Operating Cost Statement (OCS) is a consolidation of OCSs by Top Level Budget (TLB) and includes Request for Resources (RfR) 1, 2 and 3.
	RfR l and 2 data are not held centrally at level 4 (Resource Account Code). Extraction of the RfR 2 data from the consolidated OCS, to produce an OCS for RfR l at level 4 could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.
	An OCS in the summarised format produced for the Department Resource Accounts for RfR l can be produced for the period 2001-02 to 2006-07 and I shall place a copy in the Library of the House.

Operating Costs

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's RfR 1 balance sheet (level 4 view) for each financial year since 2001-02.

Bob Ainsworth: The departmental balance sheet is a consolidation of balance sheets by top level budget and includes request for resources (RfR) 1, 2 and 3. Balances at the year end are not identified by individual RfR and construction of a balance sheet for RfRl from source data could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Operational Readiness Force

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units form the UK's commitment to the Operational Readiness Force (ORF) for KFOR; whether they are fully equipped; whether the ORF is deployed; and when the next ORF will take over from the current ORF.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 4 December 2007
	The UK element of NATO's Operational Reserve Force (ORF) is currently a battalion from the 2 Royal Ghurkhas Rifles. Subsequently the UK ORF will consist of a battalion from 1 Welsh Guards and then followed by a battalion from 2 Rifles. The UK ORF battalion is prepared and positioned in the UK and will take over as the highest ready (four days notice for the lead element) battalion in support of NATO responsibilities in the Balkans from 1 January 2008 until 30 June 2008. The battalion is fully equipped for the potential tasks required of it.

Phantom Clocking

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the costs to his Department of phantom-clocking in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The term "phantom clocking" is taken to mean the abuse by employees, of time recording equipment at their place of work. This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Princess Mary's Hospital

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many patients have been treated at the Princess Mary's Hospital in RAF Akrotiri in the last 12 months; what the hospital's establishment is; how many staff are working at the hospital; and whether the hospital is fully equipped.

Derek Twigg: The number of patients treated at the Princess Mary's Hospital at RAF Akrotiri from 1 December 2006-30 November 2007 was 12,848, including both in-patients and out-patients. The total staff establishment is for 161 personnel, made up of both military and civilians, and present manning stands at 147. The current staffing level has not prevented the hospital from carrying out its required tasks, and it is also equipped for the clinical services it is required to provide.

Recruitment

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much in near cash terms was spent on civilian recruitment in each financial year since 2002-03.

Des Browne: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Redundancy Pay

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much in near cash terms was paid out in severance payments in each financial year since 2002-03.

Derek Twigg: The amounts paid out in near cash terms for redundancy and severance payments in each financial year from 2002-03 are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 2002-03 81 
			 2003-04 106 
			 2004-05 92 
			 2005-06 130 
			 2006-07 221 
		
	
	Amounts paid are in respect of payments directly charged to the operating cost statement and the cash utilisation of provisions, for both military and civilian personnel.

Reserve Forces: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to allow recruitment to the Parachute Regiment Reserve in Wales.

Derek Twigg: The 4th Battalion the Parachute Regiment constitutes the Parachute Regiment Reserve. The Battalion Headquarters is based in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, with sub-unit and detachment locations in Glasgow, London, Edinburgh, Croydon and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. There are no plans to create a detachment in Wales.
	Recruits to the regiment are welcome from any location, although anyone joining the regiment would need to travel to one of the unit locations in order to conduct administration and training.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Contracts

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts have been entered into by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Support Integrated Project Team since 2004; and what the value was of each contract.

Bob Ainsworth: Since 2004, numerous contracts have been entered into by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Support Integrated Project Team and I will write to the hon. Member with details.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Manpower

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Support Integrated Project Team; and how many of them are  (a) serving armed forces personnel,  (b) civil servants,  (c) external consultants and  (d) others.

Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Support Integrated Project Team (IPT) currently employs 75 personnel. Of these, 32 are civilian RFA Officers, 38 are civil servants, one is an external consultant and there are four posts filled on a temporary basis by non-civil servants, for example, agency staff. There are no serving armed forces personnel employed within the IPT.

Territorial Army: Military Decorations

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2007,  Official Report, column 314W, on Territorial Army: military decorations, what guidance he has issued to regional commanders on exercising their discretion to allow members of the Territorial Army to wear medals on Combat Soldier 95 working dress at Remembrance Parades and on other ceremonial occasions.

Derek Twigg: Guidance on dress is given in Army Dress Regulations, which are widely available. These allow regional commanders to authorise the wear of medals for specific parades on combat dress. No additional guidance is necessary.
	It remains the Army's intention that parade uniform (number 1 or number 2 dress) be worn for most scheduled public events. Number 2 dress is available to the TA for specific parades, and remains the uniform for general wear on Remembrance day.

Type 45 Destroyers: Procurement

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has changed his plans in respect of the number of Type 45 destroyers to be ordered; and when a decision will be made about ships seven and eight.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 17 December 2007
	We currently have a contract for six Type 45 destroyers and a decision has yet to be made on a further order. The decision and its timing will be based on a range of factors including requirements, affordability, value for money and the wider context of the Defence Industrial Strategy.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why there was no call for evidence as part of the early stages of the departmental review of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office.

Derek Twigg: The study was announced through the Defence website on 9 February 2007. The study team identified and consulted relevant authorities and bodies in assessing options. A number of industry bodies also provided input.

Warships: Deployment

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been undertaken of deployment schedules for  (a) aircraft carriers,  (b) assault vessels,  (c) destroyers,  (d) frigates and other  (e) warships and  (f) auxiliary vessels with a view to keeping them tied up in port.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 17 December 2007
	Deployment plans for all Royal Navy ships and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels are kept under continuous review in the light of operational demands and maintenance requirements. In addition, a range of options relating to ship readiness states and activity levels are considered in the Department's annual planning rounds. No decisions have yet been taken in the current planning round concerning specific deployment schedules.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Aviation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many air miles were travelled by Ministers in his Department in each year since 2000; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result.

Shaun Woodward: Since April 2006 emissions from central Government ministerial and official air travel has been offset through the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to the fund. The fund purchases certified emissions reduction credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
	The DEFRA website provides a comprehensive list of Government Carbon Offsetting Fund members, their emission figures and what activities they have offset through the fund, available at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/carbonoffset/government.htm
	Figures for air miles and the resulting emissions from ministerial air travel are not collated separately from our overall figures and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
	Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500. Copies of the lists are available in the Library of the House.

Aviation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many miles he and other Ministers in his Department travelled on short haul flights in the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon emissions produced as a result of these flights.

Shaun Woodward: Ministers in the NIO make regular short haul flights between London and Belfast to enable them to take forward departmental business in both Northern Ireland and meet their commitments at Westminster.
	Since April 2006 emissions from central Government ministerial and official air travel has been offset through the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to the fund. The fund purchases certified emissions reduction credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
	The DEFRA website provides a comprehensive list of Government Carbon Offsetting Fund members, their emission figures and what activities they have offset through the fund, available at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/carbonoffset/government.htm
	Figures for air miles and the resulting emissions from ministerial air travel are not collated separately from our overall figures and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
	Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500. Copies of the lists are available in the Library of the House.

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is his Department's policy to use  (a) incandescent light bulbs and  (b) LED lights for festive decorations on departmental premises.

Shaun Woodward: A limited amount of Christmas decorations are put up each year by staff in departmental buildings. Where these decorations include festive lights these will generally have been bought in previous years and are re-used for the sake of economy. The Department does not have a policy on the type of light bulbs used in festive decorations.

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department's policy is on the selection of  (a) real and  (b) artificial Christmas trees for his Department's festive decorations; and how real trees are disposed of.

Shaun Woodward: A limited amount of Christmas decorations, including trees, are put up each year by staff in departmental buildings. For reasons of economy the trees are generally artificial and can be reused over a number of years. In two departmental buildings where real trees are used, the trees are sourced from sustainable tree farms, and are recycled after use.

Civil Disorder: Belfast

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were  (a) arrested for and  (b) charged with riotous behaviour arising from civil disturbances in Belfast city centre on the evening of 20 November.

Paul Goggins: PSNI has advised that no persons were arrested or charged with riotous behaviour during the disorder in Belfast City Centre on 20 November 2007. However, three persons were arrested for other public order related offences arising from this incident. One person was released without charge and the two others were released pending report to the Public Prosecution Service.
	The incident involved crowds of youths, aged on average between 12 and 16 years, both male and female. The number of youths and children attending the event was significantly larger than in any previous year. This may have contributed to the cause of this incident, which was dealt with quickly and effectively by the police.

Departmental Manpower

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what proportion of posts in his Department have been recategorised from back office to frontline posts as classified by the Gershon efficiency review in each year since 2004.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office is committed to achieving work force reductions of 1,446 posts by the end of 2007-08. This is a net target and no posts will be reallocated to the frontline as part of it.

Departmental Procurement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the standard terms and conditions of purchase used by his Department in the procurement of goods and services from the private sector prohibit the assignment of debt.

Shaun Woodward: NIO Procurement Unit standard terms and conditions do not contain an express provision prohibiting the assignment of debt. However, there is a provision which states that the contractor shall not transfer or assign the contract or part thereof and shall not sub-contract any part of the provision of the services without the prior written consent of the Department.

Motor Vehicles: Theft

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vehicles were stolen in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; how many persons were  (a) charged with and  (b) convicted of vehicle theft in each year; and what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of car theft.

Paul Goggins: The Policing Board and the PSNI have made tackling vehicle crime a key priority, and have achieved a 65 per cent. reduction in the number of recorded incidents in the period covered by the following table.
	In 1998-99 the Home Office introduced revised counting rules for recording crime. As crime figures produced from 1998-99 onwards should be regarded as a new statistical series, figures for 1997-98 are not comparable and have therefore not been provided.
	Vehicle crime control strategies focus on the main areas of prevention, intelligence, enforcement and reassurance. This results in a variety of tactical responses including targeted high visibility patrolling, enforcement of bail conditions for known offenders, development of community watch programmes, pro-active operations and media awareness campaigns. This list is not exhaustive as strategies are applied in line with the needs and priorities of the local policing area.
	
		
			   Number of recorded incidents of theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicles  Number cleared by means of charge or summons 
			 1998-99 9,715 976 
			 1999-2000 10,196 993 
			 2000-01 10,806 907 
			 2001-02 11,635 757 
			 2002-03(1) 8,410 711 
			 2003-04 5,369 638 
			 2004-05 4,456 618 
			 2005-06 3,721 560 
			 2006-07 3,418 595 
			 (1) From 1 April 2002 most attempted thefts/ unauthorised taking of motor vehicles are recorded as vehicle interference due to a change in the Home Office Counting Rules. 
		
	
	The following table displays the number of convictions for theft of a vehicle by offence during the calendar years 1996-2005. 2005 is the last year for which data are available(1).
	(1) Data are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	
		
			   Theft of vehicle  Takin g a motor vehicle without owner' s consent  Aggravated vehicle taking( 1)  Total 
			 1996 11 416 0 427 
			 1997 9 453 0 462 
			 1998 18 401 0 419 
			 1999 2 294 0 296 
			 2000 8 328 0 336 
			 2001 9 348 0 357 
			 2002 3 300 0 303 
			 2003 3 351 0 354 
			 2004 5 354 0 359 
			 2005 3 303 4 310 
			 (1) Data include the offences of 'aggravated vehicle taking causing injury', 'aggravated vehicle taking in which vehicle is driven dangerously' and 'aggravated vehicle taking causing damage to the vehicle'.

Rape

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) reports,  (b) charges and  (c) convictions for rape there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows the number of rape offences (including attempted rape) reported and cleared by the police by means of charge or summons from 2001-02 to 2006-07.
	
		
			   Reported  Number cleared by means of a charge or summons 
			 2002-03 357 46 
			 2003-04 395 82 
			 2004-05 380 67 
			 2005-06 391 64 
			 2006-07 457 54 
		
	
	The following table shows the number of people convicted of rape in the calendar years 2001-05, the last year for which data are available.
	
		
			   Number of persons convicted of rape 
			 2001 12 
			 2002 8 
			 2003 8 
			 2004 15 
			 2005 4 
		
	
	The Government are committed to improving the rates of successful prosecution in rape cases. Specialist police units, staffed by highly skilled personnel, are dedicated to enhancing the service to victims of rape and sexual assault. Both PSNI and the Public Prosecution Service are seeking to develop models of best investigative practice so that more cases can achieve the evidential threshold for prosecution. Government are also currently consulting on draft legislation which would provide enhanced levels of public protection, including the introduction of robust new sentences for dealing with dangerous sexual and violent offenders.
	The Northern Ireland Office and the Department of Health and Social and Personal Services have also jointly developed, and consulted on, a draft regional strategy for addressing sexual violence in Northern Ireland which will specifically examine the factors which contribute to the attrition rate in relation to sexual offences. The strategy is scheduled to be published in early 2008. As part of that process we have already made significant progress, in partnership with the medical profession and voluntary sector, in developing proposals for a sexual assault referral centre (SARC) in Northern Ireland.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Wastes

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effect on farmers in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency of the costs associated with meeting the slurry storage requirements under the proposals for nitrate vulnerable zones.

Phil Woolas: The regulatory impact assessment (RIA)(1), which was circulated with the consultation document on the implementation of the Nitrates Directive in England, provides details of my Department's assessment of the potential cost to farmers of the proposed measures under the revised Action Programme options. The RIA includes an assessment of costs associated with meeting the slurry storage requirements.
	I am currently considering the consultation responses received.
	(1) Available via http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/waterpollution-nitrates/partialria-nitrates.pdf

Biodiversity

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of his Department's ability to meet its target under the EU commitment to halt biodiversity loss by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: It is important to stress that this commitment is not for my Department to achieve alone. DEFRA continues to work in partnership with the devolved administrations, other Government Departments, country agencies and non-Government agencies to meet this important target.
	It is too early to say whether the target will be met, but some very significant progress has been made. For example, 77 per cent. of England's Sites of Special Scientific Interest are in favourable or recovering condition compared with 50 per cent. in 2000. In June this year, assessments against a suite of 18 indicators were published on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Partnership. The publication 'Biodiversity Indicators in Your Pocket' showed that in all 12 areas where data were available, the situation was either stable or improving.
	We have been active in shaping the European and global frameworks for assessing the 2010 targets, and have developed our own reporting framework to fit with these.

Birds: Conservation

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many convictions there were for offences involving illegal theft of protected bird species from the wild in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The number of convictions for offences relating to the protection of bird species in each year since 1997 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of defendants found guilty of part of section 1 of the Wildlife and  Countryside Act 1981, England and Wales, 1997 to 2006( 1,2) 
			   Number 
			 1997 28 
			 1998 20 
			 1999 20 
			 2000 15 
			 2001 17 
			 2002 11 
			 2003 20 
			 2004 52 
			 2005 24 
			 2006 87 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 
		
	
	The figures include convictions for the illegal killing, taking and injuring of wild birds, disturbing the dependent young of birds listed in schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and the possession of live and dead wild birds. It is not possible to identify separately convictions for illegal taking.

Carbon Emissions: Heathrow Airport

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the planned extension of Heathrow airport will contribute towards his Department's emission reduction targets; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Government emissions reduction targets currently exclude international aviation emissions as there is no agreed way of allocating responsibility for these to individual countries.
	However under the current proposal to include aviation in the EU ETS, emissions from the aviation sector would be capped at the level of average 2004-06 emissions, and carbon allowances would only be issued up to the level of this cap. Emissions over this cap will be covered either through mitigation within the sector or through the purchase of reductions that can be produced more cheaply and easily by other sectors. This would be the case regardless of whether this growth in emissions was from new airport capacity, the provision of new routes or extra services on existing routes. This approach means that growth in aviation (including Heathrow expansion) would be sustainable.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on the introduction of a flood risk management innovation fund.

Phil Woolas: A £1.5 million fund has been set aside to support innovative flood risk management solutions. An open competition was launched in November 2005 and the six successful projects were announced in January 2007. These are being funded to:
	develop an educational tool to improve public understanding of the difficult decisions that are sometimes required in the management of our coasts thereby assisting implementation of more sustainable long term management policies;
	investigate the contribution of land management practices to flood management in the Staffordshire Washlands catchment of the Rivers Trent, Sow and Penk;
	work with the farming community to provide tools to landowners to assist with adaptation to change on the Essex coast;
	demonstrate and help communicate the benefits of floodplain woodland for flood management;
	develop an innovative and sustainable community-based adaptation programme for the coast at Slapton in South Devon;
	demonstrate the benefits of integrating flood mitigation and environmental approaches such as sustainability, zero carbon and zero waste within urban developments.
	The projects are being undertaken by a variety of public and private organisations and further details are on the DEFRA website.

Floods: River Derwent

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the fluvial study of the lower Derwent to be published.

Phil Woolas: A public consultation is planned for the draft lower Derwent strategy during the summer of 2008. The final strategy is expected to be published in the spring or summer of 2009, depending on the issues raised during the consultation.
	However, more detailed hydraulic modelling for Derby is planned for the next financial year. If the preliminary results of this model are different from the information the Environment Agency currently has on the predicted flood risk, publication of the draft strategy will be delayed until the agency is confident that the results of the model accurately predict river levels. This could delay publication of the draft strategy by up to a year.

Fly Tipping: North East Region

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government have taken to reduce incidents of fly-tipping in the North East; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: Tackling fly-tipping and wider waste crime is a priority for the Government. Our Waste Strategy for England, published in May 2007, makes clear that initiatives to boost waste prevention and recycling should be supported by fly-tipping strategies aimed at tackling the illegal dumping of waste.
	The Strategy includes the Government's Illegal Waste Activity Action Plan, which sets out what action is being taken and proposed in this area. This includes:
	(i) Reviewing the controls in place to deal with the management and carriage of waste. The review aims to reduce levels of fly-tipping by making it easier for businesses to understand and comply with the regulations and make them easier for local authorities to use.
	(ii) Developing legislation that will give local authorities and the Environment Agency the powers to stop, search and instantly seize vehicles being used to commit fly-tipping offences.
	(iii) Introducing mandatory Site Waste Management Plans for construction and demolition projects above a certain value.
	(iv) Funding the Environment Agency's targeted campaigns to disseminate good practice to businesses and raise awareness of good waste management practices.
	(v) Delivering Flycapture Enforcement, a training programme aimed at local authority officers and their legal teams to increase knowledge of the relevant legislation and develop skills in effective enforcement and prosecution of fly-tippers.
	(vi) Work with stakeholders to consider how the Flycapture database can be enhanced or improved to help local authorities implement fly-tipping interventions.
	DEFRA has also funded Environmental Campaigns (Encams) to deliver a programme of work on local environmental quality and fly-tipping issues in partnership with Government Offices. This work will support the poorest performing local authorities in each region through a combination of data analysis, best practice sharing and targeted seminars. It will also promote the introduction of fly-tipping targets within local area agreements.
	In addition, DEFRA funded the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science to produce research on fly-tipping—"Fly-tipping: Causes, Incentives and Solutions". This included good practice guidance on crime prevention techniques, including surveillance, and has been distributed to all local authorities in England.

Inland Waterways: Freight

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to incorporate provision for water-borne freight into his Department's climate change agreements.

Phil Woolas: It is very unlikely that climate change agreements (CCAs) would be relevant to the water-borne freight sector. CCAs provide for a reduction in the climate change levy (CCL) when operators meet challenging energy efficiency targets. However, CCL is not charged on every kind of fuel: it only applies to commodities specified in schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2000 as taxable commodities (including electricity, gas of a kind supplied by a gas utility, liquid petroleum gas and solid fuels). Furthermore, where a taxable commodity is used in a ship operating in international waters it may be eligible for exemption from CCL. Also, in order to qualify, the operator would have to engage in an eligible process, which is defined as either a process regulated under part A of the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 or meet specific energy intensity criteria. Water-borne freight is unlikely to meet either of these criteria.

Nitrate Sensitive Areas

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effect upon residents and visitors in nitrate vulnerable zones of the proposals to ban slurry-spreading over winter.

Phil Woolas: The partial regulatory impact assessment (RIA), published in support of the consultation on the implementation of the Nitrates Directive in England, provides details of my Department's assessment of the impact, in terms of costs and benefits, of all of the proposed amendments to Action Programme measures that apply in nitrate-vulnerable zones (NVZs) in England, and how this impact would vary depending on the extent of NVZ designation.

Renewable Energy

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the contribution the UK will make by 2020 to the EU target of 20 per cent. of energy to be derived from renewable sources.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 17 December 2007
	I have been asked to reply.
	On the basis of measures set out in the Energy White Paper, we expect approximately 5 per cent. of the UK's energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. Agreement has not yet been reached on the contribution that each member state will make toward the EU's 2020 target.

Reptiles: Imports

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list imported reptiles by  (a) wild caught,  (b) captive bred and  (c) ranched CITES listed categories imported into the EU in 2006.

Joan Ruddock: The number of:
	 (a) wild caught CITES listed reptiles imported into the EU in 2006 was 57,194;
	 (b) captive bred CITES listed reptiles imported into the EU in 2006 was 188,924;
	 (c) ranched CITES listed reptiles imported into the EU in 2006 was 68,764.
	This leaves 95,059 reptiles from other sources of which by far the largest proportion was those where the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) database shows no source code.
	The UK does not hold records on imports of non-CITES species into the EU.

Sustainable Development: Heathrow Airport

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether  (a) Ministers and  (b) staff were invited to participate in the project for the sustainable development of Heathrow; whether they participated; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Both Ministers and officials in DEFRA engage regularly with colleagues at the Department for Transport on matters relating to Heathrow which affect DEFRA lead policy responsibilities: notably on air quality, noise and climate change impacts.

Thames and Severn Canal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to help residents whose property has been affected by the proposed Thames and Severn canal scheme.

Phil Woolas: This is a matter for the local authority (LA). LA development plan policies for this canal seek to protect its line while allowing for piecemeal restoration. There are no specific proposals for full restoration at present. Once a planning application has been made, local authorities have set procedures for handling individuals or businesses affected by it.

Waste Disposal: Finance

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his latest estimate is of the funding for the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme in each of the next three financial years; what funding the BREW programme has had in 2007-08; and what funding was provided in each of the last two financial years.

Joan Ruddock: The Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme was set up to give £284 million additional landfill taxes back to business over three years (from April 2005 to March 2008) through funding for resource efficiency and waste projects. Funding allocated for each of the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2005-06 33 
			 2006-07 100.7 
			 2007-08 125 
		
	
	Subsequent funding of the BREW programme will be subject to future spending decisions, which will be carefully balanced with other departmental priorities in tackling waste and climate change.

Waste Disposal: Greater London

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste Programme's campaign on waste crime in London cost; how long the campaign lasted; how many incidents of fly-tipping there were in each London borough targeted by the campaign in each month since 12 months before the campaign began; what the total cost of clean-up of fly tipping was in that period in each borough; what assessment he has made of the campaign's effectiveness; and whether he plans to extend the  (a) duration and  (b) geographic reach of the campaign.

Joan Ruddock: The campaign funded by the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme is targeting waste crime across 16 local authorities in the South and East of London and North Kent. The campaign began in August 2006 and is due to close in December 2007 at a cost of £265,000.
	The analysis of the campaign is currently taking place, including the impact on both the numbers of fly-tips recorded and the ongoing awareness of businesses to waste crime.
	The BREW programme was set up to give £284 million additional landfill taxes back to business over three years (from April 2005 to March 2008) through funding for resource efficiency and waste projects. Future funding of the BREW programme will be subject to future spending decisions, which will be carefully balanced in line with departmental priorities.
	I have arranged for the statistics requested to be placed in the Library of the House. The figures show the incident numbers and estimated clearance costs for each month from 12 months before the London and Kent BREW campaign started, until March 2007.
	Incident numbers and clearance costs have been obtained from local authority entries to Flycapture, the national fly-tipping database. Clearance costs are estimates based on a national average cost assigned to each size of fly-tip.
	Data for 2007-08 are not yet available.

Waste Management: Regional Development Agencies

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to bring forward proposals for regional development agency waste performance targets.

Joan Ruddock: The Government do not intend to set Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) detailed targets on waste performance. The Report of the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration made clear that in future, RDAs will play a more strategic role within the regions. In meeting their overall objective of regional economic growth, they will be required to adhere to the cross-cutting principle of sustainable development, setting out in their Corporate Plans how they intend to apply this to all their business to achieve their growth objective.

Waste Management: Standards

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) targets for and  (b) outputs of each organisation in the business resource efficiency and waste partnership were for (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2006-07.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 18 December 2007
	The Business Resource Efficiency and Waste Programme (BREW) was established in order to return £284 million of landfill tax back to business between 2005 and 2008. It provides this through a range of free advice and support aimed at increasing business resource efficiency and reducing the amounts of waste sent unnecessarily to landfill. While work is under way to plan for the goals in any future programme, there were no specific targets set for 2005-07.
	The aggregated 2005-06 short-term outputs for the delivery bodies are shown in the following table. These show the impact of £18.5 million of the total £33 million funding for that year. Some savings will result from these interventions in future years, which are not counted here.
	
		
			  Metric  In-year result 
			 Virgin raw material savings 682,000 tonnes 
			 Carbon savings 320,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide 
			 Water savings 5,630,000 cubic metres 
			 Waste diverted from landfill 675,000 tonnes 
			 Hazardous waste savings 120,000 tonnes 
			 Cost savings to business £88 million 
			 Increased sales £14.7 million 
		
	
	DEFRA has not yet released individual delivery body results for 2005-06. These include some selected long term results, which are not included in the table. Similarly, work is currently under way to verify BREW Programme results for 2006-07. I will deposit both sets of results in the House Library when they are available.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Occupational Pensions

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to provide further assistance to people who have lost their occupational pensions.

Mike O'Brien: My announcement of 17 December extended the FAS to guarantee members of qualifying schemes 90 per cent. of their accrued pension at the date of commencement of wind-up, revalued to their retirement date, but subject to a cap of £26,000 a year.

Occupational Pensions

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to increase access to occupational pensions for those on low incomes.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to assist low income employees to gain access to occupational pensions.

Mike O'Brien: The Pensions Bill, having its Second Reading today, would introduce a new simple, low cost personal accounts pension scheme to give those currently without access to a good quality pension scheme—in particular, low to moderate earners—the opportunity to save.

Independent Living

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government are taking to assist disabled people to live independently.

Anne McGuire: The Government will shortly be publishing a five year cross-Government strategy for independent living. The strategy will set out a five year plan for making progress on the Government's aim that all disabled people (including older disabled people) should be able to live autonomous lives, and to have the same choice, freedom, dignity and control over their lives as non-disabled people.

Pensioners: East Anglia

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he next plans to meet pensioner groups from East Anglia to discuss payments of pensions and related benefits.

Mike O'Brien: In advance of introduction of the Pensions Bill we have been engaging with stakeholders to discuss pensions reforms, and continue to do so. Currently there are no plans to meet pensioner groups from East Anglia.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Financial Assistance Scheme.

Mike O'Brien: A review was carried out this year by Mercers Human Resource Consulting which reported in August that the process of gathering data to operate the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) is fit for purpose and is managed in a satisfactory manner.
	They also concluded that delays in obtaining high enough quality data are often caused by trustees' administrators and insurance firms rather than FAS operational unit processes. Regulatory changes agreed on 11 December will mitigate these delays.

Housing Benefit

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department plans to take to improve the administration of housing benefit by local authorities.

James Plaskitt: Administration has improved significantly. The average processing time on a new claim has dropped from 56 days four years ago, to 33 in 2006-07. The improvement is even more marked in what were previously the worst performing authorities.
	We are continually taking steps to simplify the system to make it easier for local authorities to administer the scheme.

Barriers to Employment

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the barriers to employment facing families in temporary accommodation.

James Plaskitt: Working on reducing barriers to employment is central to the Department's programme of welfare reform. In relation to those in temporary accommodation we support the intentions of the Working Futures pilot being carried out by the Greater London Authority and the East Thames Group.
	We believe that the pilot will help inform future housing benefit policy, including our proposals for a new regime for temporary accommodation from April 2009.

Incapacity Benefits

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of long-term claimants of incapacity benefit.

Caroline Flint: In May 2007 the number of working age people claiming incapacity benefit for more than five years was 1.5 million.
	Claimant numbers more than trebled between the late 1970s and mid 1990s but new claims to incapacity benefits have dropped by more than a third since the mid 1990s and the caseload is at its lowest for almost eight years.

Child Support Agency

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in replacing the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The first concrete steps have been taken in creating the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission with the appointment of the chair designate, Janet Paraskeva, which was announced on 15 November.
	Subject to parliamentary approval, the Commission will become operational and take responsibility for the child maintenance system in 2008.

Provision for Retirement

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people not saving for retirement; and what steps his Department is taking in response.

Mike O'Brien: DWP estimates suggest that approximately 7,000,000 people are currently not saving enough to meet their retirement aspirations.
	The Pensions Bill, having its Second Reading today, would introduce a requirement on all employers to automatically enrol workers who are eligible into a qualifying workplace pension scheme and to contribute to that scheme. Our estimates indicate this would result in between 6,000,000 and 9,000,000 people newly participating or saving more in workplace pensions.

Lone Parents

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to support lone parents in finding work; and what plans he has for further assistance.

Caroline Flint: The New Deal for lone parents has supported over half a million people into work.
	Our recent document "Ready for Work" sets out how we will expect more lone parents with school age children to actively find work along with a package of measures to provide lone parents with the skills, confidence and financial support to both find and stay in work.

Voluntary Organisations

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the role played by voluntary organisations in securing benefits for individuals.

Caroline Flint: Intermediaries play a valuable role in helping some of our customers to claim benefits, whether by providing them with advice or information, helping them complete claim forms, helping them communicate with us, or advocating on their behalf.

Pensions: Financial Assistance Scheme

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department plans to publish the final report on the Financial Assistance Scheme: Review of Assets; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on 17 December 2007.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Labour Turnover

Philip Hammond: To ask the Prime Minister what the percentage turnover of staff was in his Office in  (a) the last 12-month period and  (b) the last 24-month period for which figures are available.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron) on 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1343W.

Departmental Manpower

Mark Harper: To ask the Prime Minister how many staff work in his Office's parliamentary branch; and what proportion of their time is spent on dealing with  (a) Parliamentary Questions and  (b) correspondence from hon. Members and Peers.

Gordon Brown: There are currently three people in my parliamentary team. They deal with all my parliamentary business, including correspondence and questions from hon. Members and peers.

Departmental Procurement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Prime Minister whether the standard terms and conditions of purchase used by his Office in the procurement of goods and services from the private sector prohibit the assignment of debt.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron) today.

Departmental Secondment

Theresa May: To ask the Prime Minister how many secondments of staff were made  (a) to and  (b) from his Office in each year since 1997; which organisations' staff were seconded (i) to and (ii) from; how many staff were seconded in each year; for how long each secondment lasted; and what the cost was of each secondment in each year.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron) on 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1343W.

Local Government

Eric Pickles: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has had meetings in the last 30 days with  (a) the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and  (b) the Boundary Committee to discuss local government restructuring in (i) Ipswich and (ii) across the rest of England.

Gordon Brown: I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects.

Ministers: National Lottery

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Prime Minister how many complaints there have been of breaches of section 4.8 of the Ministerial Code of Practice, on ministerial support for National Lottery bids, in the last 12 months.

Gordon Brown: A revised "Ministerial Code" was published on 3 July 2007, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House. Guidance on ministerial support for individual applications for lottery funding is set out in section 6 of the Code. Section 1 sets out the process for handling alleged breaches of the "Ministerial Code".

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the 2012 Olympic Games on UK economic growth over the next five years; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: We expect that the 2012 games will have a positive impact on UK economic growth over the next five years.
	The 2012 games provide a wide range of opportunities for business growth across the UK, both in terms of direct games related contracts, but also in terms of delivering fitter more innovative businesses able to compete for wider procurement opportunities. Economic growth will also be boosted by the job creation arising from the games, strategies to drive up the skills base, not just in East London but across the UK, and a reduction in worklessness. The games also provide an opportunity to increase inward investment into the UK. Our aim is to ensure these benefits will be spread around the whole of the UK, not concentrated in London.
	The forthcoming Legacy Action Plan will set out the programmes that are being developed to boost the contribution of the games to the UK economic growth rate.

Olympic Games 2012

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what levels of EU funding will be available in relation to the 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: The £9.325 million public sector funding provision for the Olympics announced on 15 March 2007, further details of which I gave in my statement on 10 December, does not include any funding from the EU.

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the existing contingency fund within the Olympic budget; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 13 December 2007
	 I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 9WS; and also to the response I provided to the hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale) on 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 19.
	As I said in my written statement,
	"the programme-wide risks, and other risks outside the ODA's control, have been assessed and quantified and the contingency available has been confirmed as sufficient to cover such risks."

Olympic Review Group

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics 
	(1)  what the date was of each meeting of the Cost Review Group at which updates to financial estimates were made after 25 April 2006;
	(2)  what the date was of each meeting of the Cost Review Group at which updates to financial estimates were made before 26 January 2006.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him of 14 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1178W; which clarifies the dates of the meetings of the Cost Review Group, which were held between 26 January and 25 April 2006.

Olympic Review Group

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics 
	(1)  in what form financial estimates were presented to the meeting of the Cost Review Group of  (a) 26 January and  (b) 25 April 2006;
	(2)  what material was used at the meetings of the Cost Review Groups of 26 January 2006 and 25 April 2006 to discuss financial estimates;
	(3)  if she will place copies in the Library of the written financial estimates presented to the meetings of the Cost Review Group of 26 January 2006 and 25 April 2006.

Tessa Jowell: Meetings of the Cost Review Group were held between 26 January 2006 and 25 April 2006. Throughout this period, the group considered financial estimates in the form of oral presentations and updates. There were no formal papers tabled but oral presentations were delivered using written notes and material to support agenda discussions.
	The Cost Review Group presented the savings they identified in the form of oral presentations and updates to financial estimates. The savings identified were incorporated into the Olympic Park Masterplan announced on 7 June 2006, and continuing work on the development of the funding package which I announced to the House on 15 March.

Olympic Review Group

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what records have been retained of the meetings of the Cost Review Groups of 26 January 2006 and 25 April 2006.

Tessa Jowell: Agendas for the Cost Review Group meetings of 26 January 2006 and 25 April 2006 are available in the House Library.
	Minutes taken of the Cost Review Group meetings of 26 January 2006 and 25 April 2006 have been retained. These will not be placed in the House Library as they are being used to inform the development of our ongoing policy for managing the Olympic project.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Apprentices: Construction

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many apprentices were registered in each construction trade in the last year for which figures are available.

David Lammy: Apprentice numbers have been published today by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in the Statistical First Release Further Education, Work Based Learning, Train to Gain and Adult and Community Learning—Learner Numbers in England—2006/07.
	We will provide a response on the number of apprentices in each construction trade in the new year when data will be available for the further analysis required.

Sign Language: Education

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) lip reading and  (b) sign language courses are offered by each local authority in England; and what the average cost is for participants.

David Lammy: The information requested is not readily available and can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Students: Engineering

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what percentage of people who took up engineering courses were  (a) male and  (b) female in each of the last 10 years.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the table. Figures for 2006/07 will be available in January 2008.
	A new classification for recording subject of study was introduced in 2002/03 and so figures from 2002/03 onwards are not comparable to earlier years.
	Latest figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show that the number of accepted applicants to undergraduate engineering courses in 2007/08 has risen by 4 per cent. following the fall in 2006/07, and is now near to the level of 2005/06.
	
		
			  Entrants to engineering and technology undergraduate courses, by gender, English higher education institutions( 1) , academic years 1996/97 to 2005/06 
			   Number  Of which : 
			  Academic year  Female  Male  Total  Female  (%)  Male  (%) 
			 1996/97 4,565 29,245 33,810 13.5 86.5 
			 1997/98 4,525 29,725 34,250 13.2 86.8 
			 1998/99 4,330 27,805 32,135 13.5 86.5 
			 1999/2000 4,445 26,070 30,520 14.6 85.4 
			 2000/01 4,605 25,345 29,950 15.4 84.6 
			 2001/02 4,180 25,605 29,785 14.0 86.0 
			 2002/03(2) 4,055 23,870 27,930 14.5 85.5 
			 2003/04 4,095 22,615 26,715 15.3 84.7 
			 2004/05 4,235 24,400 28,635 14.8 85.2 
			 2005/06 4,275 24,435 28,710 14.9 85.1 
			 (1) Students from the Open university are excluded from the analysis.  (2) In 2002/03 the methodology for recording subject of study was changed on the student record. Aside from the introduction of a new coding frame, JACS (previously a system called HESACODE was used), students were apportioned between their subjects of study rather than being assigned on a headcount basis to their major subject. As such, comparisons between figures for 2001/02 and earlier and for 2002/03 onwards cannot be made.   Notes:  1. Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December excluding those writing up, on sabbatical or dormant.  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.   Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.

Students: Grants

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  with reference to his written statement of 11 October 2007,  Official Report, column 39WS, on higher education students' loans, grants and fees, if he will list the 100 constituencies which have the highest number of eligible students entitled to a  (a) full maintenance grant and  (b) partial maintenance grant; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which 20 constituencies have the  (a) largest proportion of families who qualify for a full university grant,  (b) largest (i) proportion and (ii) number of families qualifying for a full or partial university grant and  (c) lowest proportion of young people attending university.

Bill Rammell: Question 166624 refers to the higher education maintenance grant, which will be worth up to £2,835 in academic year 2008-09. Information on the numbers of students in each parliamentary constituency who will be eligible for a full or partial grant in 2008-09 is not available. However, information on grants in 2006-07 show which areas have higher proportions of students receiving full and partial grants. The available data on grants at local authority level are given in the following table; this information is not available at constituency level. The family income threshold for full maintenance grant of £2,700 in 2006-07 was £17,500, with a partial grant available to students with a family income of up to £37,425. In 2008-09 the thresholds will be raised to £25,000 for a full grant and £60,005 for a partial grant. This very large increase in the thresholds mean that 2006-07 figures can not be used as an indication of 2008-09 full and partial grant proportions.
	The main measure for tracking progress on increasing participation is currently the Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR). This is the sum of the HE initial participation rates for individual ages between 17 and 30 inclusive. The latest available figure is 42.8 per cent. for 2005-06. The 2005-06 figure for the young 17-20 age group is 34.0 per cent. The HEIPR is not disaggregated below national level.
	
		
			  Distribution of maintenance grants( 1)  in academic year 2006-07 English domiciled students studying in the UK: Local authority ordered by percentage receiving a full grant( 2) 
			   Students( 3)  Percentage 
			  Local  a uthority  Full  Part  Nil  Total  Full  Part  Nil 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,270 130 240 1,640 78 8 15 
			 Newham 1,460 300 590 2,350 62 13 25 
			 Manchester 1,690 420 660 2,770 61 15 24 
			 Camden 700 140 350 1,180 59 12 29 
			 Lambeth 1,130 320 490 1,940 59 16 25 
			 Islington 720 160 360 1,240 58 13 29 
			 Westminster 550 100 290 940 58 11 31 
			 Barking and Dagenham 480 150 240 870 55 17 27 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 390 70 260 710 54 10 36 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 480 120 340 940 51 12 36 
			 Birmingham 3,160 1,300 1,900 6,360 50 20 30 
			 Blackpool 400 210 200 800 50 26 24 
			 Bradford 1,520 640 890 3,060 50 21 29 
			 Leicester 1,140 580 570 2,290 50 25 25 
			 Lewisham 990 370 610 1,980 50 19 31 
			 Nottingham 670 280 390 1,340 50 21 29 
			 Haringey 910 250 690 1,840 49 13 37 
			 Greenwich 750 280 530 1,550 48 18 34 
			 Waltham forest 900 340 620 1,860 48 19 33 
			 Oldham 650 330 400 1,370 47 24 29 
			 Torbay 330 180 200 710 47 25 28 
			 Wandsworth 730 270 550 1,550 47 17 36 
			 Kingston upon Hull 550 290 360 1,190 46 25 30 
			 Liverpool 1,240 600 850 2,690 46 22 32 
			 Luton 580 250 440 1,260 46 19 35 
			 Derby 630 310 500 1,440 44 21 35 
			 Brighton and Hove 600 310 500 1,410 43 22 36 
			 Bristol 830 420 690 1,940 43 22 35 
			 Ealing 1,110 490 990 2,580 43 19 38 
			 Knowsley 350 220 250 820 43 26 31 
			 Rochdale 550 280 440 1,260 43 22 34 
			 Sandwell 590 400 370 1,360 43 29 27 
			 Bournemouth 380 200 330 910 42 22 36 
			 Sheffield 1,100 630 980 2,700 41 23 36 
			 Wolverhampton 630 450 470 1,550 41 29 30 
			 Bolton 720 390 680 1,790 40 22 38 
			 Kirklees 1,010 590 910 2,510 40 23 36 
			 Salford 390 210 380 970 40 21 39 
			 Tameside 420 270 360 1,050 40 26 34 
			 Enfield 890 450 930 2,280 39 20 41 
			 North East Lincolnshire 340 230 290 860 39 27 34 
			 Southampton 400 220 390 1,010 39 22 39 
			 Cornwall 1,190 990 940 3,130 38 32 30 
			 Middlesbrough 350 200 370 930 38 22 40 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 600 340 630 1,570 38 22 40 
			 Plymouth 550 350 520 1,420 38 25 37 
			 Walsall 480 330 450 1,260 38 26 35 
			 Coventry 670 480 630 1,780 37 27 35 
			 Halton 270 190 260 710 37 26 36 
			 SFD processing unit(4) 5,450 2,840 6,350 14,640 37 19 43 
			 Barnet 1,010 430 1,360 2,800 36 15 49 
			 Calderdale 460 300 520 1,280 36 24 40 
			 Croydon 880 530 1,040 2,450 36 22 42 
			 Lancashire 3,110 2,110 3,420 8,650 36 24 40 
			 Redbridge 890 460 1,100 2,450 36 19 45 
			 Sunderland 570 420 580 1,570 36 27 37 
			 Devon 1,360 1,040 1,500 3,910 35 27 38 
			 Gateshead 350 290 350 990 35 30 35 
			 Slough 270 180 330 780 35 23 42 
			 Bury 410 310 510 1,230 34 25 41 
			 Hounslow 530 320 720 1,570 34 20 46 
			 Merton 430 250 600 1,280 34 20 47 
			 Poole 230 170 270 670 34 25 41 
			 Sefton 660 500 790 1,940 34 26 41 
			 Harrow 750 470 1,030 2,260 33 21 46 
			 Leeds 1,280 960 1,610 3,860 33 25 42 
			 Trafford 560 360 770 1,680 33 21 46 
			 Wirral 700 500 910 2,100 33 24 43 
			 Barnsley 300 320 310 930 32 34 34 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 300 230 410 940 32 24 44 
			 North Lincolnshire 280 270 310 860 32 31 36 
			 Reading 200 170 260 640 32 27 41 
			 Doncaster 400 400 470 1,280 31 32 37 
			 St Helens 320 330 380 1,020 31 32 37 
			 Staffordshire 1,750 1,710 2,210 5,670 31 30 39 
			 Derbyshire 1,090 1,020 1,560 3,670 30 28 42 
			 Dudley 450 490 570 1,510 30 32 38 
			 Durham 810 810 1,050 2,670 30 30 39 
			 East Sussex 770 580 1,230 2,580 30 22 48 
			 Isle of Wight 190 190 250 620 30 30 40 
			 Milton Keynes 390 250 670 1,310 30 19 51 
			 Rotherham 340 360 450 1,150 30 31 39 
			 Wigan 500 500 650 1,650 30 31 39 
			 Bexley 360 300 590 1,260 29 24 47 
			 Cumbria 760 750 1,130 2,640 29 28 43 
			 Lincolnshire 1,030 990 1,500 3,510 29 28 43 
			 Medway 370 360 570 1,290 29 28 44 
			 Norfolk 1,000 950 1,550 3,500 29 27 44 
			 Stockport 540 430 910 1,870 29 23 49 
			 Suffolk 1,000 920 1,580 3,500 29 26 45 
			 Swindon 270 220 420 900 29 24 47 
			 Thurrock 160 120 270 560 29 22 49 
			 West Sussex 1,400 1,140 2,340 4,890 29 23 48 
			 Hillingdon 470 320 870 1,660 28 19 52 
			 Dorset 530 530 890 1,950 27 27 46 
			 Gloucestershire 830 820 1,470 3,120 27 26 47 
			 North Tyneside 320 290 570 1,170 27 25 48 
			 Richmond upon Thames 320 200 680 1,200 27 17 57 
			 Shropshire 670 700 1,070 2,450 27 29 44 
			 Worcestershire 1,180 1,200 1,940 4,320 27 28 45 
			 Cambridgeshire 980 950 1,800 3,720 26 25 48 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 540 570 970 2,080 26 28 47 
			 Kent 1,980 1,760 3,780 7,520 26 23 50 
			 Kingston upon Thames 280 230 550 1,070 26 22 52 
			 North Somerset 270 250 530 1,050 26 24 51 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,040 1,080 1,850 3,970 26 27 47 
			 Wakefield 370 440 600 1,410 26 31 42 
			 Havering 280 250 590 1,120 25 22 53 
			 Northamptonshire 880 820 1,820 3,520 25 23 52 
			 Somerset 690 780 1,250 2,720 25 29 46 
			 Warrington 310 330 590 1,230 25 27 48 
			 Bromley 460 330 1,120 1,910 24 17 59 
			 Cheshire 950 1,000 2,260 4,210 23 24 54 
			 Essex 1,440 1,440 3,350 6,230 23 23 54 
			 Leicestershire 870 1,060 1,830 3,750 23 28 49 
			 Northumberland 400 480 860 1,740 23 28 49 
			 Oxfordshire 820 710 2,050 3,580 23 20 57 
			 Sutton 260 240 630 1,130 23 21 55 
			 Hertfordshire 1,410 1,360 3,640 6,410 22 21 57 
			 Solihull 290 360 680 1,330 22 27 51 
			 South Gloucestershire 270 300 640 1,200 22 25 53 
			 Warwickshire 680 800 1,580 3,060 22 26 51 
			 Wiltshire 530 590 1,230 2,350 22 25 53 
			 Bedfordshire 480 490 1,300 2,270 21 21 57 
			 Buckinghamshire 690 610 1,940 3,250 21 19 60 
			 Hampshire 1,380 1,600 3,870 6,840 20 23 56 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 160 150 570 870 19 17 65 
			 Bracknell Forest 100 110 350 560 18 20 62 
			 Surrey 1,140 1,090 3,970 6,200 18 18 64 
			 West Berkshire 130 160 570 860 16 18 66 
			 Wokingham 160 200 710 1,070 15 18 67 
			 
			 England 97,900 67,820 126,580 292,290 33 23 43 
			 (1) The table covers the Maintenance Grant and Special Support Grant available to new students from 2006-07.  (2) The table covers those who apply to the Student Loans Company for support. This includes awards to students who subsequently withdrew from their course or suspended study during the academic year. It excludes those who are not eligible for a grant because they are receiving an NHS bursary.  (3) Student numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.  (4) The Student Finance Direct processing unit covers applications from Brent, Darlington, Hackney, Hartlepool, North Yorkshire, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Southend-on-Sea, Southward Stockton-on-Tees, and York.   Source:  Student Loans Company

UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library copies of the contracts relating to the sale of the British Library site on which it is proposed to establish the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation;
	(2)  what the value is of the British Library site on which it is proposed to establish the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation.

Ian Pearson: The UKCMRI consortium have acquired Brill Place as the site for the proposed centre for £85 million through a competitive exercise run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The contracts for the sale of the land to the consortium are being finalised between the parties. I will not be able to place copies of the contracts in the Libraries as they will be commercial in confidence between parties.

Vocational Training: Complaints

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many formal complaints have been received by his Department about skills brokers.

David Lammy: No formal complaints have been received by this Department about skills brokers. Employer satisfaction with brokerage remains high with 86 per cent. of employers being very satisfied with the service they received.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Catering

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the expenditure by the Deputy Prime Minister's Office on food and drink was in 2006-07.

Gillian Merron: In financial year 2006-07 expenditure by the Deputy Prime Minister's Office on food and drink was £6,984.94.
	All DPMO expenditure on official hospitality was made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in "Government Accounting" and the Treasury handbook on "Regularity and Propriety".

Communication: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the annual Number 10 digital communications budget is, broken down by main headings.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 17 October, 2007  Official Report, columns 1134-35W.

Departmental Procurement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the standard terms and conditions of purchase used by his Department in procurement of goods and services from the private sector prohibits the assignment of debt.

Gillian Merron: The Cabinet Office's standard terms and conditions are based on the model terms and conditions issued by the Office of Government Commerce for contracting authorities in central civil Government. Although these do not specifically prohibit the assignment of debt, they do require the contractor to obtain Cabinet Office prior approval to assign debt.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the Winter Supplementary Estimates (HC 29), if he will break down his Department's  (a) main estimate and  (b) winter supplementary estimate provision by subhead in (i) near cash and (ii) non-cash terms.

Gillian Merron: The Department's estimate provision in "Part II: Subhead detail" is broken down as follows:
	 (a) Main estimate
	 (i) Near cash
	£219.882 million near cash is included in Cabinet Office administration resource provision of £264.636 million at row A, column 1.
	£4.422 million near cash is included in Office of the Third Sector resource provision of £4.518 million at row B, column 1.
	£0.869 million near cash is included in Social Exclusion Task Force resource provision of £0.880 million at row C, column 1.
	Amounts in all other columns reported in "Part II: Sub head detail" are near cash.
	 (ii) Non-Cash
	Total non-cash of £44.861 million is reported as follows:
	£44.754 million non-cash is included in Cabinet Office administration resource provision at row A, column 1.
	£0.096 million non-cash is included in Office of the Third Sector resource provision at row B, column 1.
	£0.011 million non-cash is included in Social Exclusion Task Force resource provision at row C, column 1.
	There are no non-cash amounts reported on all other rows and columns in "Part II-Subhead detail".
	 (b) Winter Supplementary Estimate
	 (i) Near Cash
	£202.342 million near cash is included in Cabinet Office administration resource provision of £247.350 million at row A, column 1.
	£3.658 million near cash is included in Office of the Third Sector resource provision of £3.754 million at row B, column 1.
	£0.869 million near cash is included in Social Exclusion Task Force resource provision of £0.880 million at row C, column 1.
	Amounts in all other columns reported in "Part II: Subhead detail" are near cash.
	 (ii) Non-Cash
	Total non-cash of £45.115 million is reported as follows:
	£45.008 million non-cash is included in Cabinet Office administration resource provision at row A, column 1.
	£0.096 million non-cash is included in Office of the Third Sector resource provision at row B, column 1.
	£0.011 million non-cash is included in Social Exclusion Task Force resource provision at row C, column 1.
	There are no non-cash amounts reported on all other rows and columns in "Part II: Subhead detail".

Departmental Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department and its agencies spent on managing their corporate identities in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: In the period from 1 November 2006 to 31 October 2007 the Cabinet Office spent an estimated £52,000 on developing and implementing a more cohesive corporate identity, following changes to the Department's remit and the findings of its capability review. This figure includes the cost of sub-brands for the Office of the Third Sector and the Social Exclusion Taskforce, both of which joined Cabinet Office during 2006.

Departmental Recycling

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recycling scheme is in operation in each building operated by the Cabinet Office.

Gillian Merron: Recycling facilities are provided in our central London offices for the disposal of paper, cardboard, cans, tins, rigid plastic containers and batteries. An aerosol recycling bin is provided in the staff gym. Glass, CDs and DVDs, mobile phones, fluorescent tubes, toner cartridges and furniture are collected and held in secure locations before being sent for recycling. Waste cooking oil is supplied to the bio-diesel market or for technical use. We have installed wormeries in those buildings where we have restaurants to allow us to compost some food waste. Similar recycling schemes are in operation at our Basingstoke and York offices.

Licensing

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which buildings for which his Department is responsible have premises licences under the Licensing Act 2003.

Gillian Merron: The Cabinet Office has a premises licence for the Emergency Planning college.

Minimum Wage

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many London-based staff are employed by his Department on the national minimum wage.

Gillian Merron: As at 31 November 2007 the Cabinet Office had no London-based staff on the minimum wage.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the statement by the Prime Minister of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 304, on Afghanistan, what plans his Department has to recruit and deploy specialists who speak Afghan languages and understand tribal dynamics.

Kim Howells: Officials are examining a variety of options for recruiting and deploying such specialists, particularly in support of the government of Afghanistan's work on reconciliation.

Afghanistan

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the statement by the Prime Minister of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 304, on Afghanistan, how many of his Department's personnel serve in the collocated headquarters.

Jim Murphy: The UK employs a broad range of staff in support of the government of Afghanistan to help develop a stable and secure Afghanistan. Over 100 civilian staff in Kabul and over 30 staff in the southern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar are employed from across the Government, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development and the Afghanistan Drugs Inter-Departmental Unit. Their roles include work in governance, reconstruction and development, and counter narcotics. The work of Task Force Helmand and of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Lashkar Gah are co-ordinated through the combined civil-military Helmand Executive Group.

Afghanistan: Frontiers

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom recognises the 1893 Durand Line as the international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 7 January 2008
	We regard the treaties establishing the Durand Line as an international border as valid. However, it has a complicated history and there are sensitivities in the region surrounding its status. It is therefore for the sovereign parties concerned to determine their territorial border and any related disputes.

Chernobyl: Children

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent  (a) discussions he has held with and  (b) representations he has received from (i) ministerial colleagues, (ii) the Belarus ambassador and (iii) charities on Chernobyl-affected children being able to enter the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We appreciate the important work being undertaken by United Kingdom charities to provide respite care and medical treatment for children affected by the Chernobyl disaster. We have held no recent discussions with the Belarus ambassador to London in respect of Chernobyl children. We have, however, recently received correspondence from hon. Members and Peers, from the Belarus ambassador to London, and from charities concerning the visa processes for visits to the United Kingdom by Chernobyl-affected children. UKvisas continues to work with the Chernobyl charities with regard to the visa procedures and the collection of biometrics from visa applicants.

Chernobyl: Children

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Chernobyl-affected children received visas to visit the UK in 2007  (a) prior to 31 August and  (b) since 1 September; what his assessment is of the reasons for any difference; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: 3,167 gratis visas were issued to Chernobyl-affected children prior to 31 August 2007, while 111 visas have been issued in the subsequent period to 13 December 2007. The autumn is, historically, a slow period for such applications, 292 such visas being issued in the final four months of 2006. The Chernobyl charities advise that the Christmas holiday period is a busy period and UKvisas anticipated an upsurge in applications at this time. Application rates during this period may have been further affected by the collection of biometric data in Minsk. Furthermore, one charity was, temporarily, asked not to submit applications while investigations concerning one of its former hosts were ongoing. This charity has now been advised that it may resume submission of such applications.

Chernobyl: Children

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with  (a) the Belarus ambassador to London and  (b) directly with the Belarus Government on the establishment of a seasonal visa application centre in Gomel Oblast, Belarus.

Kim Howells: We have held no recent discussions with the Belarus ambassador to London in respect of Chernobyl children. It was intended that a seasonal biometrics collection facility in Gomel Oblast specifically for children wishing to come to the UK for respite care would be offered. This would have been in addition to the service offered in our embassy in Minsk. However, the Government of Belarus would not allow the delivery of this visa service, including the collection of biometrics, through our commercial partnerships in the country and the embassy was compelled to adjust its plans. Correspondence with the Belarus embassy in London is ongoing. Given the lack of agreement with the Belarus authorities in respect to our commercial partnerships in Belarus, it has now been agreed that a seasonal mobile biometrics data collection service will operate on a pilot basis outside Minsk in the summer of 2008 for children in need of recuperative holidays. The pilot will involve the use of mobile biometric collection equipment in one or more regional locations between April and July. UKvisas are prepared to receive applications in Kiev, in Ukraine, where that proves to be more convenient.

Chernobyl: Children

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from  (a) charities and  (b) others on the effects of changes to visa arrangements and charges on numbers of children able to visit the UK from the Chernobyl-affected parts of Belarus.

Kim Howells: We appreciate the important work being undertaken by United Kingdom charities to provide respite care and medical treatment for children affected by the Chernobyl disaster. We have recently received correspondence from hon. Members and Peers, from the Belarus ambassador to London, and from charities, concerning the visa processes for visits to the United Kingdom by Chernobyl-affected children. UKvisas continues to work with the Chernobyl charities with regard to the visa procedures and the collection of biometrics from visa applicants. Up to 4,000 visas a year are issued to children travelling to the United Kingdom from Belarus under the auspices of the Chernobyl charities and these visas are all issued gratis. There are no plans to change this arrangement.

Chernobyl: Children

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 19 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 1375-76W, on Chernobyl: children, at what level in Belarus the UK Government application was made; and how that refusal was conveyed.

Kim Howells: The Deputy Head of Mission, Entry Clearance Officer and Regional Deputy Director of Visa Services at our embassy in Minsk held a meeting in June 2007 with the Deputy Head of the Consular Department and other officials of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The embassy asked whether they could open Visa Application Centres (VACs) operated by their commercial partner in Belarus. The MFA said that if the embassy did open such premises they would be subject to frequent searches and/or closures by the Belarus authorities. The embassy therefore considered that they would not be able to protect the data of visa customers satisfactorily and decided not to open VACs in Belarus.
	Given the lack of agreement with the Belarus authorities in respect of our commercial partner in Belarus, UKvisas and our embassy in Minsk have now agreed to invest additional resources in a seasonal mobile biometric pilot project in the summer of 2008 for Chernobyl children in need of recuperative holidays. The pilot will involve visits by embassy officials, with a mobile biometric kit, to the region where the largest number of such children live. UKvisas are also prepared to receive applications in Kiev, in Ukraine, where that proves to be more convenient.

Cyprus: Diplomatic Relations

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the duties and responsibilities are of the Government's Special Representative to Cyprus, the hon. Member for Enfield North.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan), the UK's special representative to Cyprus, is responsible for developing and strengthening links between the Government and the British Cypriot community. Her role is to work with the Cypriot diaspora and explore how they can help to promote a settlement in Cyprus. She acts as an additional channel of communication between British Cypriots and Ministers, and maintains strong links with senior figures within Cyprus involved in issues such as the UN process and the UK/Cyprus bilateral relationship. In this capacity, and following her first official visit in October, she will visit Cyprus occasionally to reinforce these contacts and deepen further her knowledge of all relevant issues.

Defence: Private Sector

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the regulatory impact assessment carried out by his Department pursuant to the February 2002 Green Paper on Private Military Companies.

David Miliband: When the Government have reached a decision on the regulation of private military and security companies, the impact assessment will be published as part of any public consultation process. Copies will be made available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department and its agencies spent on end-of-year bonus payments in each of the last five years.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) paid the following amounts in bonuses to staff in the last five years.
	
		
			   Total bonus payments (£) 
			 2007 6,553,288 
			 2006 5,989,100 
			 2005 5,765,800 
			 2004 5,567,100 
			 2003 4,027,100 
		
	
	The FCO uses non-consolidated, non-pensionable, performance-related bonuses to encourage high performance. We pay annual bonuses to staff in the delegated grades (all except senior managers) based on appraisal evidence of annual performance. The highest individual bonus for these grades is £1,850 in 2007.
	Bonus arrangements for staff in the senior management structure (SMS/senior civil service equivalent) follow a framework set for Whitehall Departments by the Cabinet Office. We use SMS bonuses to reward excellent performance and achievement during the year. The bonuses are based on a judgment by pay committees of what an individual has achieved in comparison with peers. Those who have delivered the best results, and shown real leadership in doing so, receive the biggest bonuses. Those who have delivered least receive nothing. Whitehall Departments were authorised to spend a sum equivalent to 7.6 per cent. of their SMS pay budget on non-consolidated bonuses for senior staff in 2007.

Diplomatic Service

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made in the geographic distribution of British diplomatic posts overseas in the last 10 years; what policy objectives these changes reflect; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The following changes have been made in the geographic distribution of British diplomatic posts, including embassies, high commissions, consulate-generals and consulates overseas in the last 10 years.
	Americas: a net reduction of 12 posts (includes two posts due to shut in 2007-08);
	Europe: a net reduction of three posts;
	Asia and Pacific: a net reduction of four posts;
	Africa: a net reduction of four posts;
	Middle East and North Africa (including Iraq): a net gain of two posts;
	Russia, South Caucasus and Central Asia: a net gain of two posts; and
	South Asia and Afghanistan: a net gain of one post.
	This answer does not include offices of lesser status such as trade offices, British commercial offices and business information centres.

Embassies

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 159W, on embassies, which countries no longer have a resident British Ambassador, Consul General or High Commissioner.

David Miliband: There is no resident British diplomatic representation in American Samoa, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Republic of the), Djibouti, Dominica, East Timor, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niger, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, Suriname, Swaziland, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Posts in Côte d'Ivoire and Haiti are temporarily closed for security reasons.
	In countries where there is no British resident presence, an accredited ambassador resident in a neighbouring country represents the UK.

EU-Africa Lisbon Summit

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what waiving of EU sanctions was required in order to permit the attendance of a Zimbabwean delegation, including President Mugabe, at the EU-AU Summit in Lisbon; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Article 4(5) of the EU Common Position (2004/161/Common Foreign and Security Policy) stipulates that an exemption to the restrictions on any one of the 131 persons on the EU visa ban list preventing them from travelling to the EU can be made when the meeting they attend is intergovernmental and includes a political dialogue that directly promotes democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. The EU Africa summit in Lisbon included such a discussion.

EU-Africa Lisbon Summit

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what formal discussions of the human rights situation in Zimbabwe took place during the EU-AU summit in Lisbon; and what conclusions were reached.

David Miliband: Several discussions on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe were held during the EU/Africa summit. My noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Amos raised Zimbabwe and the appalling human rights situation caused by President Mugabe during her intervention on behalf of the UK. Other EU member states (Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden) also raised the issue, specifically criticising the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. As high representative for the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana delivered a statement on behalf of the EU underlining member states' collective concern at the deteriorating human rights situation and condemning all acts of violent repression.

European Gendarmerie Force

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to raise at the European Council with colleagues from member states contributing to the European Gendarmerie Force the prospects for its future deployment; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) is not an EU proposal or agency. The primary purpose of the EGF is to assist in crisis management operations in post-conflict situations. The UK does not have a Gendarmerie style paramilitary police force and therefore does not participate in the EGF.

European Gendarmerie Force

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with colleagues at the European Council the conditions that will be applied to any use of the European Gendarmerie Force if placed at the disposal of the European Union, in relation to its  (a) uniforms and emblems,  (b) recruitment,  (c) training and  (d) weaponry; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The primary purpose of the European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) is to assist in crisis management operations in post-conflict situations. The UK does not have a Gendarmerie style paramilitary police force and therefore does not participate in the EGF.
	The EGF is not an EU proposal or agency. While it may be put at the disposal of the EU, it has been established outside of EU structures,, and may equally be made available to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the UN, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and other international organisations or an ad hoc coalition. It would be for each respective organisation or coalition and the requesting state to determine which conditions, if any, they thought most appropriate for the requested mission.
	In addition, Article 16 of the Treaty Establishing the EGF states:
	1. EUROGENDFOR Personnel shall wear their uniform in accordance with their respective national rules. The EGF Commander may establish specific procedures where appropriate.
	2. EUROGENDFOR Personnel may possess, carry and transport arms, ammunitions, other weapon systems and explosives on the conditions that they are authorised to do so by their orders and that they do so in accordance with the laws of the Host State and the Receiving State.

European Gendarmerie Force

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to those governments contributing to the European Gendarmerie Force that it should not be deployed on the territory of another member state of the European Union.

Jim Murphy: The European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) is not an EU proposal or agency. The primary purpose of the EGF is to assist in crisis management operations in post-conflict situations and it is therefore extremely unlikely to deploy in an EU country. Deployment of the force is a matter between the governments contributing to the EGF and the requesting state in need of assistance.
	The UK does not have a Gendarmerie style paramilitary police force and therefore does not participate in the EGF.

Iran: Nuclear Power

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next report of the Director-General on Iran's co-operation under the August 2007 Work Plan is due; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We expect that the next report from the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr. Mohammed El Baradei, on Iran's co-operation with the agency under the Work Plan, will be released before the IAEA board in March 2008.
	If Iran implements the Work Plan in full, it will be a step towards restoring trust in Iran's nuclear intentions. But addressing the outstanding issues is only one of the steps the international community requires Iran to take in order to restore confidence in its intentions. Iran needs to suspend enrichment, enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, as requested by the IAEA Board of Governors and required by UN Security Council Resolutions 1696, 1737, and 1747. Iran also needs to implement fully the additional protocol and additional measures that the IAEA has requested. Until Iran meets these obligations we will continue to follow the dual track strategy agreed with our partners in the "E3+3" (China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States), and to discuss further measures aimed at persuading Iran to fulfil all its international obligations.

Iran: Nuclear Power

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the proliferation risk posed by Iran's heavy water nuclear research reactor at Arak; and when the reactor is expected to be operational.

David Miliband: We are concerned about the proliferation risk that would be posed if Iran completes construction of a heavy water reactor. This type of reactor is particularly well suited for producing plutonium, which could be reprocessed and used in a nuclear weapon. This is reflected by the demands in UN Security Council resolutions 1737 and 1747, which require that Iran suspends work on heavy water-related projects, including the construction of a research reactor moderated by heavy water. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly reported that construction of the reactor has nevertheless been continuing. The February 2006 IAEA Director-General's report noted the Iranians saying that the commissioning date for the reactor was likely to be postponed until 2011.

Iraq: Documents

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the differences between the draft Iraq dossier written by Mr. John Williams dated 9 September 2002 and Mr. John Scarlett's draft of 10 September 2002.

Kim Howells: holding answer 7 January 2008
	As I told the House on 13 June 2007,  Official Report, column 293WH, John Williams' draft was his personal attempt to explain the threat which Saddam Hussein and his regime posed. It was not specifically commissioned as part of the formal drafting process and was not used as the basis for the dossier the Government subsequently published.

Iraq: Documents

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 1470-1W, on Iraq: documents, whether the copy of the draft sent to Lord Hutton's inquiry was redacted.

Kim Howells: holding answer 7 January 2008
	The copy of the John Williams draft sent to the Hutton inquiry was not redacted.

Iraq: Documents

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 1470-1W, on Iraq: documents, whether the Government requested the Hutton inquiry not to publish  (a) all or  (b) part of the draft Iraq dossier.

Kim Howells: holding answer 7 January 2008
	As I told the House on 13 June 2007,  Official Report, column 296WH, all decisions on which documents were published on the Hutton inquiry website were taken by Lord Hutton.

Languages

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department received language training in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: At present the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has around 900 overseas jobs requiring specific levels of language skills, although this number will fluctuate to reflect business need. These posts will be filled by officers undergoing new training or using existing skills.
	The level of language training has remained broadly constant over the past 10 years, at between 250 and 400 officers per year. This reflects the needs of the business at any one time and the availability of staff who already speak the relevant languages (e.g. at recruitment level, or from previous postings). The numbers of staff receiving full-time language training in the last three years was:
	
		
			   Staff 
			 2006-07 252 
			 2005-06 386 
			 2004-05 405 
		
	
	To provide specific information on how many staff have been trained in previous years would incur disproportionate cost.

Lisbon Treaty

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he proposes to deposit the UK's instruments of ratification of the Lisbon Treaty with the relevant body.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 7 January 2008
	The Government introduced a Bill to give effect to the EU Reform Treaty in UK law on 17 December.
	As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in his Post European Council statement of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 598:
	"We will ensure that there is sufficient time for debate on the Floor of the House, so that the Bill can be examined in the fullest detail and all points of view can be heard".
	The Government will ratify the Treaty after the Bill has been approved by Parliament and received Royal Assent.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanism will be put in place to monitor the implementation of both sides of the performance-based road map to a permanent two-state solution, as set out in the Annapolis Joint Understanding of 27 November; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: At Annapolis the parties agreed to form a United States, Palestinian and Israeli mechanism led by the United States to follow up on the implementation of the Roadmap. We do not yet know what form the mechanism will take. The US, Israelis and Palestinians are still working out the details. The UK has consistently supported the principle of a mechanism as provided for in the Roadmap.

Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe: Finance

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK contribution has been to the budget of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in every year since 1992; and what percentage of the OSCE's overall budget this has constituted.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 7 January 2008
	The contribution of each participating state to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) unified budget is determined by a decision of the 56 participating states including the OSCE's Permanent Council. The United States of America makes the largest contribution, followed by Germany. The UK contribution to the unified budget is equal to that of France and Italy.
	In the years 1992-2006 it was as follows:
	
		
			   Amount (€)  Percentage of overall OSCE unified budget for year 
			 1992 243,000 9.0 
			 1993 261,000 9.0 
			 1994 1,889,190 9.0 
			 1995 2,128,500 9.0 
			 1996 3,505,050 9.0 
			 1997 4,281,120 9.0 
			 1998 14,441,965 10.1 
			 1999 14,590,100 10.0 
			 2000 20,433,613 10.0 
			 2001 19,901,891 10.2 
			 2002 17,257,691 10.3 
			 2003 16,933,565 10.2 
			 2004 17,266,417 10.2 
			 2005 16,474,408 10.6 
			 2006 17,137,827 10.8

Russia: British Council

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Russian government against the closure of British Council offices in Russia.

Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 13 December 2007,  Official Report, column 56WS, about Russia's threat to close the British Council's regional offices in Russia on 1 January 2008. The Government are urging the Russian authorities to reconsider their decision, which would be detrimental to the development of cultural links; severely affect the Russian population who benefit from the British Council's presence; and damage the Russian Government's reputation.
	This is not just a bilateral issue. It strikes at the heart of the EU-Russia relationship, given the prominence of culture, education and science in the EU-Russia Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. As such, the Government have successfully engaged European partners to show support for the British Council. The president of the EU National Institutes for Culture wrote to the Minister of Culture for the Russian Federation on 12 December 2007, condemning Russia's threats and voicing strong concern for all national institutes for culture from EU countries working in Russia. On behalf of EU member states, he described the threat as a continuation of a series of obstacles which some of these institutes have to face and urged Russia to reconsider its decision.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has committed to keeping the House fully informed of developments.

Serbia: Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of levels of observance of human rights of disabled people in Serbia; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The conditions described in the report of Mental Disability Rights International are disturbing. While the Serbian authorities questioned the legitimacy of some of the reports, they also expressed their concern and promised prompt action. The Minister for Labour Employment and Social Policy, Mr. Rasim Ljajic, responded quickly by launching an investigation and promising to immediately improve the situation of children in special institutions. We welcome this swift response.
	The Government are working on a number of projects in this area in Serbia, in conjunction with the Oxford Policy Management Team (a UK partner), to raise standards in the Serbian authorities. The projects aim to build the capacity of the Serbian authorities in a wide range of areas including; the co-ordination and implementation of social development strategy and social protection law; the supporting of standards, inspection and accreditation (including institutions); social innovation (including funding and long term planning); and dissemination of best practice throughout the system. In addition, our embassy in Belgrade is in touch with Save the Children in Serbia, who are also working alongside the Serbian authorities on alternatives to institutional care for children.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to co-ordinate communication between the UN-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur and the UN-EU Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The UK led on UN Security Council Resolution 1769 which mandated the UN-African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID), and we co-sponsored Security Council Resolution 1778 establishing the UN-EU mission in Chad/Central African Republic (CAR). We ensured that Resolution 1778 called for the force in Chad/CAR to liaise closely with UNAMID to exchange information on potential threats to humanitarian activities. We continue to underline the importance of co-operation between the two missions in Security Council consultations and in our discussions with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the Government of Sudan is co-operating fully with efforts to deploy the UNAMIS force to Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We have had a close dialogue over several months, at ministerial and official level, with the UN and other partners on deployment of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). UN Under-Secretary-General Guehenno, Head of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), told the UN Security Council on 27 November that the Government of Sudan was not co-operating on a range of issues over UNAMID deployment, including force composition, night flying rights, and the Status of Forces Agreement. Since then, representatives of the DPKO and the Government of Sudan have discussed these issues in Lisbon on 8 December, followed by further talks in Khartoum. We are awaiting further reports on progress that has come about as a result of those discussions.
	I spoke with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 7 December about the delays to UNAMID's deployment. In our contacts with the Government of Sudan, we are pressing them to co-operate fully with the DPKO and the African Union. We also continue to lobby other governments to support the deployment of UNAMID.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made recent representations to the Sudanese government to expedite the deployment of a joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur.

Kim Howells: We have pressed the Sudanese government to co-operate fully with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) over the deployment of the UN-African Union peacekeeping force for Darfur (UNAMID) in various contacts in the last two weeks.
	On 27 November 2007, the UN Under-Secretary-General Guehenno, head of the DPKO, told the UN Security Council that the government of Sudan was not co- operating on a range of issues over UNAMID deployment. Since then, representatives of the DPKO and the government of Sudan discussed these issues in Lisbon on 8 December, followed by further talks in Khartoum. We are awaiting a report on the outcome of these discussions. We have made clear that the Sudanese government should fulfil its commitments and reach agreement with the UN on the remaining issues.

Turkey: Armenia

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Turkey on the closure of its border with Armenia.

Jim Murphy: The Government have raised this issue at various levels with members of the Turkish Government and we continue to call for steps to be taken towards the normalisation of Turkey's relations with Armenia. Furthermore, we continue to encourage both the Governments of Armenia and Turkey to look to the future and build a better relationship between their countries.
	In preparing for EU accession, Turkey must have demonstrated its commitment to good neighbourly relations and have undertaken to resolve outstanding border disputes.

Turkey: Armenia

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the people of Armenia of the closure of its border with Turkey.

Jim Murphy: Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1992 as a consequence of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh. The closure of the border has inevitably inhibited the economic development of Armenia by limiting trade prospects. An open border between Turkey and Armenia is desirable and would bring benefits for both countries. We hope that the political situation in the region develops in such a way as to allow this. We encourage the Governments of Armenia and Turkey to look to the future and build a better relationship between their countries. In the meantime, we will continue to work for peace, security and mutual understanding in the region.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the statement by the Prime Minister of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 305, on Afghanistan, how much of the cost of the reconstruction programme announced for Musa Qala will be funded from the £450 million in development and stabilisation assistance to Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	The £450 million in development and stabilisation assistance outlined in the statement to the House by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 12 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 303-07, is for the period 2009-12. The initial reconstruction programme for Musa Qala—estimated at £1.9 million—is being funded through Quick Impact Projects, which have a budget this financial year of £9 million.

Overseas Aid

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the role of diaspora communities in the UK in helping to alleviate poverty in the developing world; and what steps his Department is taking to co-ordinate contributions from these communities.

Shahid Malik: DFID recognises the contribution that diaspora communities in the UK can make to poverty alleviation. This recognition is reflected in DFID's first White Paper, and more recently in its migration and development policy paper, "Moving out of poverty: Making Migration work for poor people".
	To enhance this contribution we have engaged with diaspora communities in several ways. For example, we have consulted diaspora communities when developing country assistance plans and relevant policies. We have also facilitated the transfer of formal remittances by supporting the creation of the "sendmoneyhome.org" website and the creation of the UK remittances taskforce. These seek to reduce remittance transfer costs and tackle barriers to remittance flows from diaspora communities to their countries of origin.
	Since 2003, DFID has sought to help diaspora organisations co-ordinate their contribution to international development by supporting the formation of the network organisation, Connections For Development (CfD) through a strategic grant agreement (SGA) - value approximately £980,000. CfD engages in the development of policy and country programmes, as well as building awareness and understanding of development in the UK.
	In 2006 DFID announced a new volunteering initiative designed to engage diaspora communities in development. DFID will launch a new £3 million diaspora volunteering scheme in early 2008. The objective of the programme is to give people from these communities the opportunity to make a personal contribution to development and pass on their learning through a range of development awareness activities on return to the UK.

HEALTH

Ambulance Services: Hampshire

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 493-94W, on ambulance services: Hampshire, how he monitors ambulance trusts' performance against response time targets; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: National health service ambulance trusts are required to meet the following response times:
	Category A (presenting conditions which may be immediately life threatening): calls should be responded to within eight minutes irrespective of location, in 75 per cent. of cases. A fully equipped ambulance should also attend incidents classified as category A within 19 minutes of a request being made for transport, 95 per cent. of the time.
	Category B (presenting conditions which though serious are not immediately life threatening): calls should be responded to within 19 minutes in 95 per cent. of cases.
	Response time data are collected by ambulance trusts and published annually. The latest statistical bulletin, Ambulance Services, England, 2006-07 was published in June 2007. A copy is available in the Library.
	Since 1 October 2004 local NHS organisations have had responsibility for managing and monitoring the ways in which local services respond to Category C (presenting conditions which are not immediately serious or life threatening) calls.

Autism

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts on the minimum level of care which should be available to people with autism;
	(2)  what research his Department has  (a) commissioned, and  (b) evaluated on the level of NHS care available to people with autism in Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We have not issued any guidance to national health service trusts nor have we commissioned or evaluated any research on the level of care which should be available to people with autism in Portsmouth. "Better Services for People with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A Note Clarifying Current Government Policy and Describing Good Practice" (published on 16 November 2006) clarifies the nature and intent of existing Government policy as it relates to adults with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A copy is available in the Library. It is for NHS trusts to manage their priorities and decide how resources should be attributed, taking into consideration individual assessment of need.

Broadmoor Hospital: Suicide

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths recorded as suicide there have been at Broadmoor Hospital in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally. However, Broadmoor hospital has supplied the following data in the following table.
	
		
			  Deaths in Broadmoor since 1997 from West London Mental Health NHS Trust 
			   Number of suicides (suspected or with inquest verdict)  Other deaths (natural causes)  Total deaths 
			 1997 1 5 6 
			 1998 2 1 3 
			 1999 6 6 12 
			 2000 1 3 4 
			 2001 0 2 2 
			 2002 2 4 6 
			 2003 0 1 1 
			 2004 0 (1)4 4 
			 2005 3 2 3 
			 2006 0 3 3 
			 2007(2) 3 2 5 
			 (1) This includes one homicide. (2) To 30 November 2007.

Cancer: Mortality Rate

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to the statement in paragraph 1.4 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy on the fall in cancer mortality in under 75s between 1996 and 2005, what the drop in cancer mortality in people under 75 years was in the equivalent period before 1996; and how many lives were saved by the reduction in cancer mortality over this period.

Ann Keen: holding answer 17 December 2007
	"Lives saved" is an assessment of the cumulative effect of year on year reductions to the numbers of deaths in a specific age group and from a specific cause of death. In this case, it relates to deaths from cancer at ages under 75. It is calculated by subtracting from the number of deaths that occurred in the first year of the period, the number of deaths registered in each subsequent year, and then totalling the differences.
	The cancer mortality target rate is calculated using three-year moving averages. In order to make concise statements, the three-year periods are sometimes referred to by the middle year of the period. This convention has been used in the first bullet point in paragraph 1.4 of the Cancer Reform Strategy. From the baseline in 1995-96-97 to the most recent period, 2004-05-06, the cancer mortality rate in people aged under 75 in England has fallen by over 17 per cent.
	Lives saved are calculated using single year data. The middle year of the baseline period, 1996, is used as the baseline. Using single year data, to the most recent period, 2006, there were approximately 60,000 lives saved, compared to 1996.
	The equivalent period before 1996 is 1985 to 1995. From 1984-85-86 to 1993-94-95 cancer mortality in people under age 75 in England fell by almost 10 per cent. With 1985 as the baseline, this equates to approximately 35,000 lives saved between 1985 and 1995.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to monitor the proposed extension of the 31-day waiting time standard to cover all cancer treatments as described in his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: We will monitor national health service progress towards delivery of the extended cancer waiting times standards, and achievement of the standards by NHS organisations. The mechanism for monitoring progress is currently under consideration by a Department/NHS expert group.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to establish the national audit in primary care of all patients diagnosed with cancer as described in paragraph 3.61 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The national audit in primary care of patients newly diagnosed with cancer will be undertaken in collaboration with the Royal College of General Practitioners and the National Patient Safety Agency. The National Cancer Director is working with those organisations to establish the details of the audit, and will then establish how soon the audit can begin.

Care Homes: Fees and Charges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the consultation on the level of personal expenses allowance contained within the Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide consultation 2008 will follow Cabinet Office guidance regarding a minimum consultation period of 12 weeks; on what date the consultation period will commence; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  over what period the consultation on the level of personal expenses allowance contained within the Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide consultation 2008 will occur; and on what date the consultation period will commence.

Ivan Lewis: The Department will undertake public consultation early in 2008 on the recommendations of a group of key stakeholders on changes to the Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide. This will include consultation on the stakeholders' recommendations on the level of the personal expenses allowance. The consultation will be in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, allowing 12 weeks for comments to be submitted.

Children: Greater London

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risks to the health of children in London from the level of performance of the Child Health Interim Application system.

Ben Bradshaw: BT's provision of an interim child health system pending delivery of a long-term solution reduced the risks arising from the 10 primary care trusts (PCTs) concerned being left with no system following the decision by the previous commercial child health system supplier to withdraw its product from the market.
	In the period following implementation of the Child Health Interim Application (CHIA) system, figures generated for the Health Protection Agency's Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly (COVER) reports indicated that the uptake of immunisations had dropped. However, there is no evidence of any causal relationship with the CHIA implementation.
	To mitigate any risks arising from this drop, an immunisation uptake audit was undertaken across the 10 PCTs who were using CHIA in London. The initial findings from the audit show that a significant number of children who appeared in the system as unimmunised had actually received their immunisations. There were also a number of children who had not been immunised, but the audit revealed a number of reasons, unconnected with the computer system changes, why this was the case.
	Each of the 10 PCTs is now undertaking an immunisation catch-up programme which aims to complete by March 2008.

Chiropody: Elderly

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of levels of provision of chiropody services for older people in  (a) Uxbridge constituency and  (b) the London borough of Hillingdon; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to ensure that the services they commission meet the needs of the populations that they serve, including chiropody services.

Commission for Social Care Inspection: Surveys

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the results of the Commission for Social Care Inspection's 2007 employee survey;
	(2)  what equality impact assessments have been carried out by the Commission for Social Care Inspection of  (a) its estates strategy and  (b) the restructuring and headcount reduction programme for 2007-08; what the main findings were of those assessments; and what steps have been taken by the Commission for Social Care Inspection management in response;
	(3)  how much and what proportion of the Commission for Social Care Inspection's payroll budget was spent on agency staff in the last 12 months; and what proportion of the Commission's spending on agency staff was accounted for by agency fees.

Ivan Lewis: We have been informed that the chief inspector of the Commission for Social Care Inspection has replied in writing to my hon. Friend. A copy of the reply has been placed in the Library

Departmental Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on the selection of  (a) real and  (b) artificial Christmas trees for his Department's festive decorations; and how real trees are disposed of.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department purchases two real Christmas trees for its festive decorations. The sustainable supplier removes the trees from site and the trees are chipped and used as mulch.

Departmental Equality

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by his Department  (a) in total and  (b) on staff costs on promoting equality and diversity in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many people are employed by his Department for this purpose.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has a continuing commitment to equality and diversity, which conforms to all statutory duties and supports the Cabinet Office Diversity 10 Point Plan. There is a small equality and diversity team, which is responsible for strategy and policy development. However, the delivery of the diversity agenda is mainstreamed across all functions and roles—both in the Human Resources Branch and the wider organisation. Because considerations of equality and diversity have become, over the years, integral components of the business and hence a very wide range of staff activities it is not possible to separately identify and report on costs for those components without incurring disproportionate costs.

Departmental Land

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what land surplus to his Department's requirements it is  (a) selling,  (b) leasing and  (c) intending to (i) sell and (ii) lease; and what the size and name of each relevant site is.

Ben Bradshaw: The information in the following tables shows the detail of the more substantial properties in the ownership of the Secretary of State, that the Department is either selling or leasing or intending to sell or lease.
	The following table shows the sites the Department is selling:
	
		
			  Property  Area (hectares) 
			 Queen Elizabeth hospital, Hackney 0.63 
			 332 High Road, Tottenham 0.10 
			 Dog Kennel Wood, Maidstone 2.15 
			 10 Woodside, Plymouth 0.05 
			 22-38 Princes Road, Redhill 0.16 
			 Land at South Elmsall, Wakefield 1.38 
			 Land at Morton Banks, Keighley 2.33 
			 Part Little Plumstead hospital, Norwich 24.71 
			 Northern View, Bradford 2.89 
			 Land at Victoria hospital, Worksop 0.44 
			 Warwick Cottage, Melton Mowbray 0.1 
			 30 Paul Road, Bodmin 0.05 
			 35 Higher Kingston, Yeovil 0.05 
			 Houses in Surrey 1.00 
			 St James' Court, Balham 0.24 
		
	
	There are no sites which the Department is Leasing.
	The following are sites that the Department is intending to sell:
	
		
			  Property  Area (hectares) 
			 Land at Napsbury, St Albans 8.49 
			 Part Park Prewett hospital, Basingstoke 1.66 
			 Land at Woodside, Plymouth 0.11 
			 Lakeview Close, Walsall 1.40 
			 Part Royal Shrewsbury hospital, Shrewsbury (1)— 
			 Part Harperbury hospital, Radlett 36.8 
			 Land at Harwich hospital, Harwich 0.76 
			 Harp Close Meadow, Sudbury 1.31 
			 Primrose Lane, Huntington 0.72 
			 Horton House, Epsom 0.44 
			 White Hart, Harrogate 0.33 
			 Hazel Court, Battersea 0.22 
			 Eagle Cottage, Jarrow 0.05 
			 63/65 Bardsley Drive, Farnham 0.05 
			 Land at Crone Hills Health Centre, West Bromwich 0.05 
			 Land at Wellington hospital, Telford 0.10 
			 Garrett Lane, Wandsworth 0.05 
			 (1 )To be determined 
		
	
	There are no sites which the Department intends to lease.

Departmental Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued to staff maintaining his Department's and its agencies' corporate identity; and what the estimated annual cost is of  (a) producing and  (b) complying with such guidelines.

Ben Bradshaw: A copy of the departmental and core NHS Identity Guidelines has been placed in the Library.
	The Department's guidelines are also available via its website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4108132
	The full range of NHS Identity Guidelines is available via the NHS Identity website at:
	www.nhsidentity.nhs.uk/main.HTM
	Over the last five years, the Department has spent an average of £291,885 per year managing the NHS and the Department's corporate identities.
	This figure includes developing and producing guidelines, providing logo artwork to NHS organisations, supporting the Department, NHS and third parties in correctly applying the Department and NHS brands and protecting the Department and NHS brands from misuse.
	NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency uses the Department and NHS Identity Guidelines so there are no additional guidelines to be placed in the Library and no annual costs involved in producing and developing guidelines.
	A copy of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's identity guidelines has been placed in the Library. These guidelines were produced several years ago and there is therefore no annual cost.
	We are unable to identify how much staff time is spent on complying with the corporate guidelines without incurring disproportionate costs.

Drugs: Olympic Games 2012

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that members of teams competing in the 2012 Olympics  (a) do not bring proscribed drugs or medicines into the UK prior to competition,  (b) do not dispose of unused drugs or medicines on the UK market during competition and  (c) remove all unused imported drugs and medicines from the UK on departure; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The import and export of controlled drugs is prohibited under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, except under licence from the Home Office.
	Medicines for human use are controlled in the United Kingdom by the 1968 Medicines Act and supporting regulations. Under the provisions of the Medicines Act, prescription-only medicines may be imported or exported to or from the UK by an individual for their personal use.
	Any medicinal product which is brought into the UK by an individual for his or her own use or that of a member of his/her family is not 'placed on the market'. Accordingly, it is not subject to the controls of medicines legislation. Any onward sale or supply by an individual however, would place the product on the market and bring it within the scope of regulatory control. The Medicines Act contains provisions to enforce the legislative requirements. Offences are criminal and prosecutions may be brought through the criminal courts.

Health Services: Armed Forces

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what continuing obligations his Department has for the medical care of servicemen and women injured in the course of service after they have been discharged; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The national health service is responsible for the health care of service personnel on leaving the armed forces provided the individual is entitled to residency in the United Kingdom. The Department provides funding to primary care trusts to meet this responsibility.

Health Services: Hertfordshire

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much in financial savings made by Hertfordshire's acute trusts in  (a) the 2007-08,  (b) the 2005-06 and  (c) the 2006-07 financial year; and what the savings were in each year in (i) monetary and (ii) percentage value of the budget.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.

Health Services: North West Region

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on  (a) the procurement process and  (b) compensation payments for the nationally procured clinical assessment and treatment service in Cumbria and Lancashire to date; from which budget it was planned to meet further such expenditure; which budget will fund the locally procured service; and what further budget adjustments will be made as a consequence of the change from a nationally to a locally procured service.

Ben Bradshaw: The total cost of the procurement of Phase 2 of the independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) programme at the end of October 2007 was approximately £84 million; this figure includes all assessment, scoping, procurement, and associated management, professional advisory and support costs. The ISTC programme comprises central resources which work across all schemes and the programme in general. These resources are not disaggregated by individual scheme.
	To date, no compensation payments have been made in relation to the proposed Phase 2 clinical assessment, treatment and support scheme in Cumbria and Lancashire. The Department will work with preferred bidders in a systematic way to consider any compensation claims that may be brought on a case-by-case basis, with regard to withdrawn schemes. No specific funds are allocated for this, however the overall budget does include general contingencies for unforeseen events.
	The local procurement of independent sector services is a matter for local national health service commissioners.

Health Services: Standards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on which dates the monthly meetings held between the 13 trusts that will be early achievers of his Department's 18-week target were held; and if he will place copies of the  (a) agenda and  (b) minutes of each meeting in the Library.

Ben Bradshaw: Dates of the 18-week early achievers meetings are shown as follows. Copies of the agendas and meeting notes from these meetings have been placed in the Library. Some sections have been redacted as they either relate to the current formulation of Government policy or their disclosure would otherwise prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs.
	22 February 2007
	3 April 2007
	1 May 2007
	5 June 2007
	17 July 2007
	25 July 2007
	7 August 2007
	4 September 2007
	2 October 2007
	30 October 2007

Health: Children

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what manual systems are being used by primary care trusts (PCTs) to support the Child Health Interim Applications (CHIA) system; and whether PCTs using the CHIA system are able to issue COVER reports;
	(2)  with reference to the answer of 8 January 2007,  Official Report, column 24W, on the Child Health Interim Application, what software was provided to enable primary care trusts to generate COVER reports from the live system; and when it was provided;
	(3)  with reference to the answer of 25 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1202W, on child health interim application (CHIA), for what reasons Connecting for Health and the London Strategic Health Authority have not produced reports from the raw data within CHIA for the COVER quarterly and annual returns.

Ben Bradshaw: Since May 2006 reports have been produced for the Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly (COVER) quarterly and annual returns from an extract of the raw data taken directly from the child health interim application (CHIA). The data required to submit COVER returns, which is a primary care trust (PCT) responsibility, are provided to the PCTs which use the CHIA system by BT, the system supplier. The data are taken from the live system and therefore reflect the information stored on CHIA at the point the data are extracted. Each PCT will use different manual systems dependent on their current business processes.
	While all parties recognise that this situation is not ideal, the PCTs have indicated that they are satisfied with this approach as an interim solution. On migration to the RiO system, PCTs will be able to generate reports themselves. All PCTs using CHIA are expected to migrate to RiO by the end of 2008.

Health: Children

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts (PCTs) in London use the Child Health Interim Applications system; and what other systems are used for the same purpose in each other London PCT.

Ben Bradshaw: 22 of London's primary care trusts (PCTs) use a child health system delivered by the London programme for information technology (LPfIT). The following 10 PCTs use the child health interim application (CHIA) system: Barking and Dagenham, Camden, City and Hackney, Haringey, Havering, Islington, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forrest.
	The following PCTs use the child health functionality of CSE Servelec's RiO system, also delivered by LPfIT: Barnet; Ealing; Enfield; Greenwich; Hammersmith and Fulham; Hounslow; Lambeth; Lewisham, Richmond; Westminster; Southwark; Sutton and Merton.
	Currently, the remaining PCTs in London use the following systems to support child health services: Bexley—McKesson; Brent—Continuum; Bromley—Totalcare; Croydon—EPEX (Ascribe); Harrow—Health Solutions Wales Community Child Health 2000 System; Hillingdon—Health Solutions Wales Community Child Health 2000 System; Kensington and Chelsea—Continuum; Kingston—McKesson child health; and Wandsworth—Comwise.

Health: Children

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reasons the Richs system was replaced by the Child Health Interim Application (CHIA) system; what functionality the CHIA system has that the Richs system did not; and what additional functionality the RiO system will have in comparison with to  (a) the CHIA system and  (b) the Richs system;
	(2)  for what reasons London primary care trusts were not able to move directly from the Richs system to the RiO system;
	(3)  what the status is of the Child Health Interim Application; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The child health interim application (CHIA) was introduced in response to a decision in early 2005 to withdraw support for the ageing Regional Interactive Child Health System (RICHS) from 10 primary care trusts (PCTs) in London taken by its commercial supplier. CHIA was delivered to these PCTs at short notice by BT, the London local service provider under the national programme for information technology, as an interim measure at the request of the local national health service. At the same time NHS Connecting for Health, PCTs and BT were working together on a longer-term solution. The PCTs chose CSE Servelec's RiO system to be their strategic system, and all CHIA trusts will eventually migrate to RiO, which began roll-out in London in 2006.
	CHIA was always intended as a rapidly-produced like-for-like replacement for the RICHS system. There was no intention to provide an enhanced product.
	PCTs have been heavily involved in the development of the strategic system including the specification of criteria deemed essential by the PCTs using CHIA. They identified the automatic making of appointments and scheduling, and an electronic link with Great Ormond Street's newborn blood spot screening programme, as vital components of the new system. These functions will be present when the first trusts migrate from CHIA to RiO early next year.
	Unlike CHIA and RICHS, RiO is an evolving product with capacity for continuing development over time.

Health: Children

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts use manual processes alongside their child health applications; and what those processes are.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Healthcare Commission: Complaints

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints the Healthcare Commission and its predecessor bodies received in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 18 December 2007
	 The Healthcare Commission has had responsibility for the second, independent review, stage of the national health service complaints process since the end of July 2004.
	Information about the number of complaints the Commission has received is set out as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004-05 (1)5,867 
			 2005-06 7,644 
			 2006-07 7,696 
			 2007-08 (2)5,515 
			 (1) Part year only (2) To 14 December 
		
	
	The following information refers to cases processed at second stage by the NHS prior to July 2004, on cases requesting independent review, and cases referred to independent review panels:
	
		
			   Requests  Referred to review panel 
			 2002-03 3,600 450 
			 2003-04 3,739 416 
		
	
	Not all requests would have been referred to an independent panel, but they would all have undergone some degree of second stage process in order to determine whether consideration by an independent review panel would be appropriate.
	Information for earlier years is not available in the form requested.

Henderson Hospital: Closures

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the  (a) services funded by the Henderson hospital and  (b) proposals to provide those services via alternate means.

Ivan Lewis: The provision of health services, including mental health services, is a matter for the local national health service.

Home Care Services: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many households received domiciliary care in Eastbourne in  (a) 1987,  (b) 1992,  (c) 1997,  (d) 2002 and  (e) at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The following table shows the number of households receiving home care during a sample week in September in East Sussex, which includes Eastbourne, for the years 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2006. Data for 1987 are not available. Separate data for Eastbourne are not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Number of households( 1)  receiving home care in East Sussex, England, survey week in September 
			   1992( 2,3)  1997( 3)  2002  2006 
			 East Sussex(4) 5,950 6,300 2,490 2,560 
			 Brighton and Hove n/a 2,160 3,050 2,140 
			 Total 5,950 8,450 5,540 4,700 
			 n/a = Data not available.  (1) Households receiving home care purchased with a direct payment are excluded.  (2) First year of collection was 1992; therefore data may not be as robust as following years.  (3) Information on the number of households prior to 2000 included some double counting due to some households receiving home care from both the independent sector and from their local authority. From 2000 the collection was amended to remove the issue around double counting.  (4) The regional boundary of East Sussex changed in 1996 to not include Brighton and Hove within its area in subsequent years. Data for Brighton and Hove have been provided for consistent time series.   Source:  HH1 return.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether dispensing contractors will be allowed to contract out a full dispensing service of appliances to other organisations under proposed amendments to the Regulatory Terms of Service of Pharmacy and Appliance Contractors in relation to dispensing items listed in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.

Ivan Lewis: Annex B of the consultation "Arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances—and related services—to Primary Care. Revised Proposals" sets out a number of proposals relating to essential services provided by dispensing appliance contractors and pharmacy contractors.
	One of these proposals states that both dispensing appliance and pharmacy contractors should—if they cannot dispense the prescription item—be able to pass a prescription form to another dispensing contractor with the patient's consent—provided that they do not receive either a gift or a reward from the other dispensing contractor.
	This does not preclude dispensing contractors working together in a commercial manner in order to provide a full dispensing service to patients in relation to Part IXA (catheter), Part IXB (incontinence related) or Part IXC (stoma) prescription items.

Independent Sector Procurement Forum

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the role is of the independent sector procurement forum; what funds were allocated to it for 2007-08; who is on the forum; and what remuneration each member receives.

Ben Bradshaw: The Independent Sector Procurement Forum will advise the Department on policies and practice in local procurement of clinical services. The forum, the membership of which is still being finalised, will draw on a range of expertise and experience. Forum members will not be paid but will be entitled to claim expenses in line with departmental guidance. Secretariat and any other costs of the forum will be met from existing resources for 2007-08.

Industrial Diseases

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of industrial disease prevalence in determining resource allocation in the NHS.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no specific consideration made for industrial disease prevalence in determining resource allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) but industrial disease will be picked up in the models of utilisation of health care in the additional need element of the formula.
	A weighted capitation formula is used to determine PCTs' target shares of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need.
	The components of the formula are used to weight each PCT's 'crude' population according to their relative need (age, and additional need) for health care and the unavoidable geographical differences in the cost of providing health care (market forces factor).
	The additional need element of the formula is intended to reflect the relative need for health care over and above that accounted for by age. The need weighting takes the form of indices from two broad service areas:
	acute and maternity;
	mental health.
	The indices are based on models of utilisation of health care and comprise a number of socio-economic and health related variables. There are two different groups of variables included in these models:
	standard variables derived from small area statistical modelling of utilisation; and
	additional morbidity variables designed to capture some of the effect of unmet need where ethnic minority groups and low income groups do not receive healthcare services to the same level as that of others with similar health characteristics.
	For further information on the weighted-capitation formula, please refer to 'Resource Allocation: Weighted Capitation Formula (Fifth edition)'. A copy is available in the Library, and can also be accessed at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/allocations.

Information Centre for Health and Social Care

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the Information Centre for Health and Social Care to commence development of a dataset for urgent and emergency care, as described on page four of his Department's document Urgent care update: Key areas highlighted by the Direction of Travel consultation and other work; and which  (a) organisations and  (b) individuals he expects the Information Centre to consult on the matter.

Ben Bradshaw: The Information Centre for health and social care (IC) are working towards developing a dataset for urgent and emergency care. The IC will follow their usual processes of wide engagement with relevant professional bodies, and may also include an open consultation period.

Living Wills

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to members of the public on living wills; and what plans he has to revise such advice.

Ivan Lewis: The Mental Capacity Act 2005 sets out the statutory rules governing advance decisions to refuse treatment, which were sometimes previously known as 'living wills'. The Government issued the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice in April 2007, which includes guidance on advance decisions, and a range of information booklets for the public and professionals, which summarise the provisions that relate to advance decisions. The Department has issued information on the transitional provisions for advance decisions to refuse life-sustaining treatment made before the Act came into force. The Code of Practice and other information will be updated as necessary.

Medical Records

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the full implementation of the Summary Care Record is expected to take place; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: There are no current plans to implement the summary care record (SCR) beyond the existing early adopter programme. The Department is working with both the Summary Care Record Advisory Group and the independent evaluators based at University College London to ensure that all significant learning from the early adopters is taken into account as soon as it is available. The evaluation will draw from extensive fieldwork done to capture the views and experiences of general practitioners, practice managers, nurses, other national health service clinical and management staff, and patients. The results of the evaluation will be incorporated into future deployment plans for the SCR.

Medical Records: Databases

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which categories of NHS staff working outside GP surgeries will have direct access to information in detailed care records created by clinicians working in a GP surgery; and which of those staff categories will be authorised to override patients' wishes expressed through sealed envelope software.

Ben Bradshaw: Individuals from outside the general practitioner's practice will only be able to access a patient's detailed care record, where they are working within a local health community where patient records are managed through a shared detailed record system and where they have a smartcard and role profile that enables access to patient records and also have a legitimate relationship with the patient—for example, because they are providing healthcare or treatment in a different setting, or they have express consent from the patient for other reasons, such as clinical research, or there is a statutory basis or court order supporting disclosure.
	Patients may also request that a flag within the system be set to prevent information being accessed by anyone outside of the practice without their express consent other than where there is a legal requirement to do so, or an overriding public interest such as serious crime.
	A patient's wishes regarding a sealed envelope can only be overridden exceptionally by staff who have been specifically granted the ability to do so by their employing organisations as part of their assigned role profile. When they do override a seal they must record whether their action is justified by express patient consent, a legal requirement, or an overriding public interest, and this will subsequently be checked by the employing body.

Mental Health Services: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Health Commission star rating is for each London mental health trust; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The star rating system is no longer used by the Healthcare Commission. The rating system is now shown through scores of 'weak', 'fair', 'good' and 'excellent'. The information requested can be found in the following table:
	
		
			   2006-07 
			  Name of Trust  Use of Resources  Quality of Services 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust Fair Good 
			 Camden and Islington Mental Health Trust Good Excellent 
			 Central and North West London Mental Health Trust Good Excellent 
			 East London and The City Mental Health Trust Good Excellent 
			 North East London Mental Health Trust Fair Good 
			 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust Excellent Good 
			 South London and Maudesly NHS Foundation Trust Excellent Good 
			 South West London and St. George's Mental Health Trust Fair Fair 
			 Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust Good Excellent 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust Good Excellent

Mental Health Services: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been detained involuntarily for treatment under the Mental Health Act in each London mental health trust in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Mental Health Services: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for talk therapies in each London mental health trust in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Information relating to average waiting times for talking therapies is not held centrally. However, this can be obtained directly from the national health service trusts concerned.
	Currently, there are no national waiting times targets for access to psychological therapies in primary care. Waiting times standards are being developed which will be tested in the new Pathfinder Sites for improving access to psychological therapies in 2007-08. These sites will test out proposed standards including appropriate access times for different stages of treatment as detailed in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Guidelines.

Mental Health Services: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for a first appointment with a mental health professional following referral by a GP in the last five years, broken down by London mental health trust; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information is not available in the format requested. Waiting times can only be calculated back to 2005 as prior to this, data were only collected for waits over 13 weeks. The available information has been set out in the tables.
	Waiting time data are collected for consultant led out-patient appointments, but recently more work is being done by multi-disciplinary teams. Therefore waiting lists have fallen for mental health specialties. Furthermore, as numbers are small, data for average waits cannot be calculated for all trusts.
	Furthermore, in-patient psychiatric activity has fallen over time as we have established more than 700 new mental health teams providing community based care as an alternative to acute in-patient care.
	
		
			  Out-patient waiting list statistics for mental health specialties for London provider trusts 
			 Not yet seen at the end of the month who are still waiting 
			  Time period—month ending  Name  Total over 13 week out-patient waiters not seen after 1( st)  out-patient appointment for mental health specialties  Not seen 13<17 weeks  Not seen 17<21 weeks  Not seen 21+ weeks  Not seen 21<26 weeks  Not seen 26+ weeks 
			 March 2003 Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 8 5 3 0 0 0 
			 March 2003 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust 15 10 5 0 0 0 
			 March 2003 West London Mental Health NHS Trust 9 5 4 0 0 0 
			 March 2003 Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust 3 2 1 0 0 0 
			 March 2003 South West London and St. George's NHS Trust 10 4 5 1 1 0 
			 March 2003 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust 32 17 15 0 0 0 
			 March 2003 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2 2 0 0 0 0 
			 March 2003 Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust 4 4 0 0 0 0 
			 March 2003 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust 81 33 47 1 0 1 
			 March 2003 East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust 18 13 5 0 0 0 
			 March 2003 Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust 5 5 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Not yet seen at the end of the timebands not seen 
			  Time period—month ending  Name  Total over 13 week out-patient waiters not seen after 1( st)  out-patient appointment for mental health specialties  Not seen 13<17 weeks  Not seen 17<21 weeks  Not seen 21 +weeks  Not seen 21<26weeks  Not seen 26+weeks 
			 March 2004 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 March 2004 West London Mental Health NHS Trust 9 9 0 0 0 0 
			 March 2004 Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust 2 2 0 0 0 0 
			 March 2004 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust 43 43 0 0 0 0 
			 March 2004 South West London and St. George's NHS Trust 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 March 2004 East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust 9 9 0 0 0 0 
			 March 2004 Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			  Note: Previous to June 2004, the out-patients not seen were only collected for patients not seen who were waiting 13 weeks and above. Therefore no average could be calculated.  Source: QM08NS 
		
	
	
		
			  Out-patient waiting list statistics for mental health specialties for London provider trusts—patients still waiting at the end of the month 
			  Time period—month ending  Name  Median waiting time of patients still waiting for a 1( st)  out-patient appointment for mental health specialties (in weeks) 
			 March 2005 Bromley PCT n/a 
			 March 2005 Hillingdon PCT n/a 
			 March 2005 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust n/a 
			 March 2005 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust 5.6 
			 March 2005 West London Mental Health NHS Trust 4.7 
			 March 2005 Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust 3.7 
			 March 2005 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust n/a 
			 March 2005 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust 5.9 
			 March 2005 South West London and St. George's NHS Trust 4.9 
			 March 2005 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust n/a 
			 March 2005 Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust 3.8 
			 March 2005 East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust 4.7 
			 March 2005 Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust 7.9 
			
			 March 2006 Bromley PCT n/a 
			 March 2006 Barnet PCT n/a 
			 March 2006 Hillingdon PCT n/a 
			 March 2006 Brent PCT n/a 
			 March 2006 West London Mental Health NHS Trust 4.4 
			 March 2006 Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust 3.4 
			 March 2006 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust n/a 
			 March 2006 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust 4.0 
			 March 2006 South West London and St. George's NHS Trust 3.4 
			 March 2006 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust n/a 
			 March 2006 Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust 3.3 
			 March 2006 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 3.8 
			 March 2006 East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust 4.2 
			 March 2006 Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust n/a 
			
			 March 2007 Bromley PCT n/a 
			 March 2007 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust n/a 
			 March 2007 West London Mental Health NHS Trust 3.1 
			 March 2007 Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust 3.3 
			 March 2007 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust n/a 
			 March 2007 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust 6.6 
			 March 2007 South West London and St. George's NHS Trust 3.6 
			 March 2007 University College London NHS Foundation Trust n/a 
			 March 2007 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust 3.9 
			 March 2007 East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust 4.3 
			 March 2007 Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust n/a 
			
			 September 2007 Bromley PCT n/a 
			 September 2007 Croydon PCT n/a 
			 September 2007 King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust n/a 
			 September 2007 West London Mental Health NHS Trust 2.9 
			 September 2007 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust n/a 
			 September 2007 South West London and St. George's NHS Trust 2.5 
			 September 2007 University College London NHS Foundation Trust n/a 
			 September 2007 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust 2.9 
			 September 2007 East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust 6.9 
			 September 2007 Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust n/a 
			 n/a = not applicable.  Notes: 1. Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits. In particular, specialties with low numbers waiting are prone to fluctuations in the median. This should be taken into account when interpreting the data. 2. Medians are provided for out-patients not seen with total of less than 50 because this population is too small for a statistically meaningful median to be calculated so a n/a shown in that case.  Source: QM08NS

Mental Health Services: Standards

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government have taken to improve the quality of services for mental health patients since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: Mental health was identified as a key clinical priority in "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation", in 1998, which set out a target to reduce suicides by one fifth by 2010. This target is included in the Department's public service agreement.
	We published the first ever National Service Framework (NSF) in England for adult mental health services in 1999. It laid down models of treatment and care which people would be entitled to expect in every part of the country and was a deliberate move to raise the profile of mental health. Since then, mental health services have been working to implement a radical programme of modernisation to improve access to effective treatment and care, raise standards and provide quicker and more convenient services.
	The "NHS Plan" 2000, aimed to strengthen community care and in doing so, take pressure off acute beds. It provided an extra annual investment of over £300 million by 2003-04 to fast forward the NSF.
	From 2001-02 to 2006-07, real terms investment in adult mental health services increased by 31 per cent. (or £1.2 billion)—that is £1.9 billion in cash terms. The national health service spent over £5.1 billion on adult mental health services in 2006-07 compared to £3.9 billion in 2001-02.
	Key targets were set for service delivery on early intervention, crisis resolution and assertive outreach services and, due to the NSF and increased funding, we now have over 700 new mental health teams working in the community.
	During 2006-07, crisis and home treatment teams provided 95,000 episodes of home treatment against 84,000 in 2005-06 for people who would otherwise have been admitted to hospital.
	The Government have allocated an extra £130 million in 2006-07 to provide more appropriate 'places of safety' for people detained under the Mental Health Act by the police.
	We now have 55 per cent. more consultant psychiatrists, almost 70 per cent. more clinical psychologists and at least 20 per cent. more mental health nurses than we had in 1997.
	Because of the NSF and increased funding, we now have over 700 new mental health teams working in the community (that includes assertive outreach, early intervention, crisis resolution teams).
	A five-year action plan is in place to address inequalities in the experience Black and minority ethnic people have in accessing services.
	We are also committed to expanding access to psychological therapies as a positive alternative to medication. By 2010-11, the NHS will spend £170 million per year on psychological therapies, with £33 million in 2008-09, £103 million in 2009-10 and £173 million in 2010-11. This investment will mean:
	900,000 more people will be treated for depression and anxiety, many of whom will be completely cured;
	450,000 achieving measurable recovery;
	all GP practices will have access to psychological therapies as the programme rolls out; and
	the average waiting time for psychological treatments will reduce from the current 18 months to a few weeks.

Mental Health Services: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dedicated beds were available for mental health patients in Suffolk in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not available prior to 2005-06. Due to trust mergers and demergers, data are not comparable. The number of beds available at Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust in 2005-06 was 205 and in 2006-07 it was 258.
	The reduction in mental health bed numbers reflects the increasing provision by the national health service in England of treatment for patients with mental health conditions in primary care and community settings, without the need for hospital admissions.

Mental Health Services: Young People

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many under 18-year-olds were admitted to adult mental health wards in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not available in either the format or time frame requested. However, the number of bed days on adult psychiatric wards of patients aged 16 or 17 and those children under 16 is in the following table for the two years for which figures are available.
	
		
			   2005-06  2006-07 
			 Patients aged under 16 353 201 
			 Patients age 16 or 17 29,306 19,988 
		
	
	Due to the statistical basis for collecting this information changing between the two years, the figures are not directly comparable.
	The Mental Health Act 2007 contains a provision (section 31) that ensures that patients aged under 18 are treated in an environment in hospital, which is suitable having regard to their age (subject to their needs). The NHS operating framework which was published recently also reinforces this commitment.
	The Government have made a commitment to commence this provision in England by April 2010. Capital funding of £31 million has been provided in 2007-08 for 17 projects specifically designed to help eliminate the inappropriate use of adult psychiatric wards for children and young people.

Midwives: Higher Education

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwifery academics there were in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of midwifery academics in each year since 1997 is not held by this Department. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills holds data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency on the number of academic staff.

NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the performance of Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTCs); what mechanisms are in place to monitor the undertaking of operations paid for by primary care trusts; how many complaints he has received of ISTCs not carrying out paid for operations; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Around 839,000 national health service patients have been treated through the various independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) programmes to date.
	The utilisation of ISTC contracts (the levels of update of services provided) is monitored by the Central Contracts Monitoring Unit of the Department's Commercial Directorate.
	The Department works with sponsors and providers to ensure optimum utilisation of the contracts through the total contract period. This includes changing the case-mix to respond to local needs, and working with providers and primary care trusts to recover previous under-utilised activity where possible.
	The Department does not routinely collect information on the number of complaints made in respect of ISTCs. However, the Department, the NHS and providers meet quarterly for a Joint Service Review to discuss a range of operational issues and to ensure that the services offered deliver a high-quality effective service to the NHS patients that they serve.

NHS: EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total cost incurred by hospital trusts in relation to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not collected centrally.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data are being recorded under the RiO patient care records system.

Ben Bradshaw: RiO is an information system designed for use across the community health sector. Data are recorded to support the key functions of providing secure access to patients' care records, to allocate, share and reassign cases, to record treatments, and to book appointments. As well as recording clinical information it provides clinical and administrative functionality to support care professionals, working in teams, with features such as diary, referral and caseload management, progress notes and care plans. Child health functionality includes the scheduling, recording and outcome of immunisations, health reviews and development checks, registration of birth details, screening tests and special needs.
	RiO is the strategic community health information solution for London. Its features and functionality will continue to be developed with the input of national health service staff in London.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) capital and  (b) revenue expenditure there has been on the National Programme for IT and Connecting for Health in each year since the programme began; and how much (i) capital and (ii) revenue spending has been budgeted for each remaining year of the programme.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's NHS Connecting for Health Agency is responsible both for ensuring delivery of the information technology (IT) systems under the national programme for IT (NPfIT), and for maintaining the critical business systems previously provided to the national health service by the former NHS Information Authority. Information covering all the agency's responsibilities is in the tables.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Actual expenditure  Forecast outturn 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Capital 360.0 429.0 589.0 826.0 
			 Revenue 260.0 539.0 528.0 500.0 
		
	
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Planned expenditure 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Capital 826.0 1,049.7 835.8 
			 Revenue 703.5 786.9 785.9 
			  Notes: 1. All sums exclude capital charges. 2. The amounts include the original costs of NPfIT contracts, which have not changed, but also include new and additional requirements that have been added, supported by separate business cases and funding, as reported by the National Audit Office. 3. With the exception of planned revenue expenditure in 2008-09, figures for 2008-09 to 2010-11 are those used to inform the comprehensive spending review and are subject to revision in light of the evolving IT needs of the NHS. 4. Budgets for years beyond 2010-11 are dependent on the outcome of future spending reviews.

NHS: ICT

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospital trusts have installed Cerner's Millennium system; on what date it was installed; which hospital trusts are expected to install the system and when; what the name is of the senior clinician on each hospital IT board; which Minister is responsible for the system roll out; what representations he has received from clinicians in hospitals using the system on their experience of using it; if he will ask a chief medical officer to consult clinicians using the system in  (a) Kent,  (b) Sussex,  (c) Cheshire and  (d) Buckinghamshire; and if he will update the figures provided previously in the answer of 23 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 823-4W.

Ben Bradshaw: Cerner is the chosen subcontractor of two of the local service providers (LSPs) under the national programme for information technology (NPfIT) for the provision of health care IT systems, Fujitsu in the south of England and BT in London.
	Nine health communities have to date gone live with the Cerner Millennium system provided through the national programme. Each health community typically comprises an acute national health service trust and the associated primary care trust sites in its area. Details are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Trust  Total users  Peak users  Average users  Go live date 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 880 700 450 25 September 2006 
			 Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust 2,000 980 420 24 February 2007 
			 Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust 900 170 130 22 December 2005 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 2,875 620 400 20 April 2007 
			 Weston Area Health NHS Trust 1,700 1,400 450 29 July 2006 
			 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 1,820 980 360 10 February 2007 
			 Worthing and Southlands Hospitals 3,750 300 180 29 September 2007 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust 4,580 410 110 24 July 2007 
			 Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust 2,050 170 50 29 October 2007 
			  
			 Total 20,555 5,730 2,550 — 
		
	
	In addition two London NHS hospital trusts, the Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and Newham University Hospital Trust, had initiated procurements of the Millennium system before the national programme.
	To date, some 2.7 million patient records have been entered in the systems currently in use.
	Four further trusts are currently expected to go live with the existing release (release 0) of the Millennium system by the early part of 2008. These are Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust in 2007, and the Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust, the Royal West Sussex Hospital Trust, and Barts and the London NHS Trust in 2008. Thereafter, release 1 of the system will form the basis for other implementations across both LSP areas in 2008-09 and beyond. Specific go-live dates in each strategic health authority area will be determined by local agreement with the NHS bodies concerned.
	All matters to do with the national programme fall within my portfolio of departmental responsibilities as the Minister of State.
	Details of clinical representation on bodies responsible for overseeing local implementation of NPfIT systems are not held centrally.
	While Ministers have not received any direct representations, we are aware that users in the early deployments expressed some concerns about the system's management and statutory reporting functionality, and some of its usability features, for example the number of key strokes required for certain functions. Action has been taken to address these concerns and to enhance these areas. This is making a positive impact. Many users who have become familiar with Millennium over time have expressed satisfaction with the system.
	From the inception of the IT programme relevant and experienced clinicians have contributed to the effective identification of requirements, design and testing of all systems wherever across the NHS these are being delivered. This continues to be the case. NHS Connecting for Health has appointed a chief clinical officer to lead the clinical engagement and clinical contribution to the programme.

NHS: Inflation

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of  (a) inflation and  (b) wage inflation was in the NHS in each year since 1995.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table reports, from 1995-96 to 2005-06, Hospital and Community Health Service (HCHS) wage inflation and total national health service inflation.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   HCHS Pay Inflation  Total NHS Inflation 
			 1995-96 4.4 3.7 
			 1996-97 3.3 2.9 
			 1997-98 2.5 2.1 
			 1998-99 4.9 3.9 
			 1999-2000 6.9 4.6 
			 2000-01 7.2 4.2 
			 2001-02 8.3 4.8 
			 2002-03 5.0 3.5 
			 2003-04 7.3 4.9 
			 2004-05 4.5 n/a 
			 2005-06 4.7 n/a 
			  Notes:  1. Wage inflation is measured using the HCHS pay cost index, which is a measure of the average paybill per head of those employed within the HCHS.  2. The total NHS inflation index is no longer available from 2004-05 as it relies on the General Medical Service (GMS)/Personal Medical Service data series, which has discontinued since the introduction of the new GMS contract in 2004-05.

NHS: Pay

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals in senior administrative roles in all NHS bodies in the East of England were paid  (a) over £100,000 and  (b) over £150,000 in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2007.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not collect details on the pay of individuals across the whole national health service.
	Very senior managers (chief executives and board level directors) in strategic and special health authorities, primary care trusts and ambulance trusts are paid under the "Pay Framework for very senior managers in strategic and special health authorities, primary care trusts and ambulance trusts", published in July 2006, a copy of which is available in the Library. This does not apply to other NHS trusts (acute, mental health, care and foundation trusts), but they are free to adopt the principles of the arrangements.
	Under the Framework, senior executives are paid a spot rate salary (£55,838 to £196,704), with the provision of payments of recruitment and retention premia (of up to 30 per cent. of the spot rate salary) and additional duties (up to 10 per cent. of the spot rate salary) where appropriate.
	NHS organisations are public bodies and as such, the pay of their senior executive teams is a matter of public record, published in their annual accounts.

NHS: Procurement

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the terms of reference are of the joint Office of Government Commerce and NHS Purchasing Supply Review; when the review will be completed; and whether the results of the review will be published.

Ben Bradshaw: The Office of Government Commerce's programme of Procurement Capability Reviews was announced for all Government Departments in January 2007 as a key enabler of the Transforming Government Procurement report.
	The review of the Department is being coordinated for the Department by the commercial directorate and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency. The terms of reference will be agreed in early 2008. The intensive interview stage of the review is scheduled to begin in March 2008 and last three-four weeks. The review team's report on the Department will be published in the autumn.

NHS: Procurement

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the result of the Strategic Review of Collaborative Procurement in the NHS was; and if he will publish the report of the review.

Ben Bradshaw: The Strategic Review of Collaborative Procurement in the national health service is not yet complete. The Department will consult on its findings before making them available to interested parties shortly.

NHS: Procurement

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expected NHS expenditure on medical supplies and equipment is for 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is not available centrally in the exact format requested. Expenditure on clinical supplies and services is collected on an historical basis from strategic health authorities (SHAs), primary care trusts (PCTs) and national health service trusts. The latest year for which information is available is 2006-07 when the total expenditure on clinical supplies and services was £5,043,371,000. This figure contains the purchase of low value medical and surgical equipment but not items over £5,000. Information on the expenditure on medical equipment costing more than £5,000 is not available. Information for 2007-08 will be available next autumn.
	The information is from the annual financial returns of SHAs, PCTs and NHS trusts. No information is available for NHS foundation trusts.

Primary Care Trusts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the support and development framework for primary care trusts, supporting his Department's proposals for world class commissioning, to be made available.

Ben Bradshaw: It is planned that the support and development framework will begin to be made available from spring 2008. The support and development framework will be built upon and iterated during the year to reflect the changing needs of primary care trusts.

Private Finance Unit

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which projects under the private finance initiative his Department's Private Finance Unit has categorised as having not established clear requirements before getting under way;
	(2)  which NHS buildings constructed under the private finance initiative his Department's Private Finance Unit assessed as not fitting  (a) the departmental vision,  (b) the needs of the NHS and  (c) the needs of patients and the public.

Ben Bradshaw: At all stages of the approval process for a private finance initiative (PFI) scheme, the business case must include clear evidence that the scheme supports all local and national service and clinical targets. Output specifications supplied to bidders by the trust explicitly state the scope of clinical services and functional content that they require from their new facility.
	Clinicians and local commissioners must be represented on a trust's PFI project board and provide written endorsement of the level and type of services being provided in the final PFI proposals. This must be evidenced in the final full business case as a condition of formal approval by the relevant strategic health authority, the Department and for larger cases HM Treasury. Guidance also requires local people, staff and their representatives to be consulted on the proposals and to be able to respond.

Prosthetics: Ex-servicemen

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what provision is made for the continuing care of armed forces veterans with C-leg limb prostheses;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the consistency of ongoing limb prosthetic services available to veterans on the NHS.

Ivan Lewis: No assessment of ongoing prosthetic services has been carried out centrally. It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders to assess the needs of their local population and to commission services accordingly. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of prosthetic services for veterans.
	Continuing national health service health care is provided over an extended period of time to meet physical or mental health needs that have arisen as a result of disability, an accident or illness. It is available to anyone who has been assessed as having a high level of need for ongoing health care.

Psychiatry

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of Human Givens as a form of psychotherapy; whether Human Givens treatment may be provided by the NHS; and what clinical trials of the effectiveness of Human Givens his Department plans to consider.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has not assessed Human Givens as a form of psychotherapy and has no plans to do so at this time.

Psychiatry: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatrists were employed by each London mental health trust in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested can be found in the following table.
	In-patient psychiatric activity has fallen over time as we have established more than 700 new mental health teams providing community based care as an alternative to acute in-patient care.
	
		
			  Hospital and Community Health Services: medical and dental staff working within the psychiatry group of specialties in London strategic health authority (SHA) area, showing mental heath trusts: As at 30 September each year 
			  Numbers (headcount) and full-time equivalent 
			2002  2003  2004 
			 Of which   Of which   Of which 
			All staff( 1)  Consultant  All staff( 1)  Consultant  All staff( 1)  Consultant 
			 London SHA Area  1,870 736 1,970 800 2,203 896 
			  of which
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust RRP 166 60 180 64 214 80 
			 Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust TAF 103 30 138 50 146 46 
			 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust RV3 204 76 217 82 232 96 
			 East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust RWK 155 61 174 70 214 77 
			 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust RAT 96 49 71 34 122 50 
			 Oxleas NHS Trust RPG 102 39 94 43 105 43 
			 South London and Maudsley NHS Trust RV5 464 193 502 208 510 226 
			 South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust RQY 249 94 261 102 273 108 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust RKL 201 78 208 85 236 96 
		
	
	
		
			2005  2006 
			 Of which   Of which 
			All staff( 1)  Consultant  All staff( 1)  Consultant 
			 London SHA Area  2,306 931 2,388 947 
			  of which  
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust RRP 241 87 240 98 
			 Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust TAF 156 50 156 57 
			 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust RV3 257 100 293 110 
			 East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust RWK 176 83 233 90 
			 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust RAT 140 51 140 48 
			 Oxleas NHS Trust RPG 102 47 129 56 
			 South London and Maudsley NHS Trust RV5 542 227 533 213 
			 South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust RQY 274 105 262 106 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust RKL 242 96 252 104 
			 (1) All staff denotes qualified medical staff who work in the psychiatry group of specialties within the specified organisations.  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census.

Psychiatry: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatrist nurses were employed by each London mental health trust in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested can be found in the following table.
	In-patient psychiatric activity has fallen over time as we have established more than 700 new mental health teams providing community based care as an alternative to acute in-patient care.
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community health services: Qualified psychiatric nurses in the London strategic health authority (SHA) area showing mental health trusts: As at September each year 
			  Headcount 
			2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 London SHA area  8,501 9,902 10,266 10,264 10,251 
			  of which   
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust RRP 863 788 974 1,070 1,029 
			 Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust TAF 434 615 679 691 748 
			 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust RV3 1,161 1,062 1,140 1,237 1,456 
			 East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust RWK 781 950 980 913 902 
			 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust RAT 522 846 804 538 692 
			 Oxleas NHS Trust RPG 649 719 622 637 635 
			 South London and Maudsley NHS Trust RV5 1,808 2,246 2,572 2,635 2,488 
			 South West London & St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust RQY 697 828 825 838 812 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust RKL 1,336 1,316 1,423 1,422 1,446 
			  Notes: 1. Psychiatric nurses includes community psychiatric nurses. 2. More accurate validation processes in 2006 have resulted in the identification and removal of 9,858 duplicate non-medical staff records out of the total workforce figure of 1.3 million in 2006. Earlier years' figures could not be accurately validated in this way and so will be slightly inflated. The level of inflation in earlier years' figures is estimated to be less than 1 per cent. of total across all non-medical staff groups for headcount figures (and negligible for full-time equivalents). This should be taken into consideration when analysing trends over time.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce census.

Psychiatry: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacant psychiatric posts there are in each London mental health trust; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested can be found in the following table.
	In-patient psychiatric activity has fallen over time as we have established more than 700 new mental health teams providing community based care as an alternative to acute in-patient care.
	
		
			  The three month vacancy number for all qualified nurses and doctors (excluding doctors in training) working within the psychiatry group of specialties in London strategic health authority area, showing mental health trusts as 31 March 2007 
			  Three month vacancy numbers 
			Qualified nurses  Doctors (excluding doctors in training) 
			 London Strategic Health Authority Area — 1 9 
			  of which
			 Barnet, Enfield And Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust RRP 0 6 
			 Camden and Islington Mental Health And Social Care Trust TAF 0 0 
			 Central And North West London Mental Health NHS Trust RV3 0 0 
			 East London And The City Mental Health NHS Trust RWK 0 0 
			 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust RAT 0 0 
			 Oxleas NHS Trust RPG 0 0 
			 South London and Maudsley NHS Trust RV5 1 1 
			 South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust RQY 0 3 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust RKL 0 0 
			  Notes:  1. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents).  2. Vacancy numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.  3. Psychiatric nurses are Community Psychiatric nurses and Other Psychiatric nurses.  4. Vacancy numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.  5. Strategic health authority figures are based on trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of health care.   Source:  The Information Centre Medical and Dental and Non-Medical Workforce Census, Vacancies Survey.

Richard Granger

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect the resignation of Mr. Richard Granger had on the renegotiation of the Department's Connecting for Health contract with BT.

Ben Bradshaw: The decision of the Director General of NHS Connecting for Health to step down from his role in the Department was unrelated to, and had no impact on, the recent resetting of contracts let under the national programme for information technology, including that with BT.

Sheep: Disease Control

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last reviewed scientific advice on the removal of specified risk material from sheep over 12 months old or with permanent incisors erupted; and what plans he has to change his policy on this matter.

Ivan Lewis: The Food Standards Agency keeps the possible human health risks from Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) in sheep and the specified risk material (SRM) controls under continual review. The Agency has advised that on the basis of the current scientific evidence they have no immediate plans to put forward to the European Commission any proposals to change the policy on the removal of SRM from sheep over 12 months of age. Controls on the removal of SRM are set out in Community regulations which are applicable in all member states. The European Commission published its TSE Road Map on the future of TSE controls in July 2005. This indicated that SRM controls, including in sheep, would be reviewed in the short-medium term (2005-09) in the light of scientific opinion.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that electrically powered indoor and outdoor wheelchairs are made available to children with spinal muscular atrophy on the basis of clinical need.

Ivan Lewis: All national health service wheelchair services are funded out of general allocation funding to primary care trusts (PCTs). It is up to individual PCTs to set their own eligibility criteria for their service. Decisions about the type of wheelchair provided to an individual will be based on an individual assessment of their needs and the PCTs eligibility criteria. This includes wheelchairs for children with spinal muscular atrophy.

Vaccination: Children

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are used by GPs to identify children who are due for immunisation and who have not received it.

Ben Bradshaw: There is a requirement under the new General Medical Services contract and the Primary Medical Services (Directed Enhanced Services) (England) Directions 2006, that the general practitioner:
	develops and maintains a register (its "Childhood Immunisation Scheme Register", which may comprise electronically tagged entries in a wider computer database) of all the children for whom the contractor has a contractual duty to provide childhood immunisation and pre-school booster services (who may already have been immunised, by the contractor or otherwise, or to whom the contractor has offered or needs to offer immunisations).

Vaccination: Children

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility general practitioners have to inform parents and guardians that children are due for vaccination.

Ben Bradshaw: There is a requirement under the new General Medical Services and Personal Medical Services contract and Primary Medical Services (Directed Enhanced Services) (England) Directions 2006 that the general practitioner:
	(i) develops a strategy for liaising with and informing parents or guardians of children on its Childhood Immunisation Scheme Register about its immunisation programme with the aim of improving uptake; and
	(ii) provides information on request to those parents or guardians about immunisation.

Waiting Lists

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets he has set for reducing waiting times between a patient being placed on a consultant's list and the operation taking place; and what his policy is on these matters.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 18 December 2007
	 The operational standard in place for the national health service is a maximum wait of 26 weeks for an operation from the time the decision to admit was made.
	By December 2008, patients can expect to wait a maximum of 18 weeks from the time they are referred to a consultant to the start of their treatment, unless it is clinically appropriate for them to wait longer or they choose to do so. This includes time spent waiting for out-patient appointments and diagnostic tests as well as for any operation or other treatment if appropriate.

Walnuttree Hospital: Hospital Wards

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many wards at the Walnuttree hospital, Sudbury are not in use.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for the national health service locally. However, hospital wards are regularly opened and closed to meet fluctuating demands.

West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust: Heart Disease Nurses

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many heart failure nurses are  (a) employed and  (b) on maternity leave in West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.

JUSTICE

Association of Electoral Administrators

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the recent meeting between his Department's officials and the Association of Electoral Administrators at which holding a general election in the autumn was discussed.

Bridget Prentice: My officials hold regular meetings on an ongoing basis with the Association of Electoral Administrators at which a range of electoral issues are discussed. Such a meeting, which was pre-planned, took place in September. Issues surrounding the administration of elections were discussed at the meeting along with a variety of other issues. These meetings are informal in nature and minutes are not taken.

Chelmsford Crown Court: Facilities

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what facilities are available at Chelmsford Crown court for  (a) defendants,  (b) families of defendants and  (c) victims of crime; what such facilities were available in (i) 1996, (ii) 1998, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2005 and (v) 2006; what plans he has to improve facilities; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Facilities available at Chelmsford Crown court are as follows:
	 (a) Since March 2006, there has been a dedicated suite available for defendants on bail.
	 (b) Rooms are not normally provided for families of defendants. However, where there are special circumstances, a lockable interview room is available and can be allocated for use by the families of defendants.
	 (c) Since 1996, there have been three rooms available for victims of crime; the normal witness assembly room plus two other dedicated rooms for vulnerable witnesses or families of murder victims.
	Separately, during 2007, there have been representations on proposed new magistrates court buildings in Chelmsford both from a local Councillor and an MP.
	There are currently no plans to improve facilities at the Crown court.

Chelmsford Prison

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) adults and  (b) young offenders there are in Chelmsford Prison.

David Hanson: At the end of October 2007, there were an estimated 370 adult offenders (aged 21 and over) and 180 young adult offenders (aged 18 to 20) detained in Chelmsford prison. These figures exclude individuals on remand awaiting trial.
	Information on the total number of prisoners in all prison establishments in England and Wales can be found at the website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/population-in-custody-oct07.pdf
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether it is his Department's policy to use  (a) incandescent light bulbs and  (b) LED lights for festive decorations on departmental premises.

Maria Eagle: The information is as follows:
	 Ministry of Justice Headquarters Estate:
	The Corporate HQ Facilities M&E Contractor (ASEL) purchases lights for festive decoration across the CHQ Estate. The only festive lights ASEL have purchased are lights for the Christmas tree and there is currently no policy in place with regards to light bulb type. The overriding decision making process is governed by Health and Safety policy.
	In respect of the delivery Agencies of the Ministry of Justice (including NOMS, HMPS, HMCS and tribunals), these are matters that are left to local management, who are best placed to judge what is most appropriate for local circumstances.

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's policy is on the selection of  (a) real and  (b) artificial Christmas trees for his Department's festive decorations; and how real trees are disposed of.

Maria Eagle: There is currently no written policy in place for the selection of Christmas trees for the Corporate HQ Estate. However, the Corporate HQ Estate Christmas trees are sustainably sourced and recycled after use.
	The Corporate HQ Facilities Team organise for MJ Ferguson to purchase the trees from www.pinesandneedles.com. The trees are recycled at Cringle Dock Waste Management, which comes under Western Riverside Waste Authority (www.wrwa.gov.uk). Cringle Dock Waste Management has a special section for Christmas tree recycling.
	In respect of the delivery agencies of MoJ (including NOMS, HMPS, HMCS and tribunals), these are matters that are left to local management, who are best placed to judge what is most appropriate for local circumstances. They are, however, being advised to take advantage of the Woodland Trust's scheme for the sustainable disposal of Christmas trees.

Christmas

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on  (a) Christmas cards and  (b) postage of Christmas cards in 2007.

Maria Eagle: This is the first year that an MoJ Christmas card has been produced by our print room. To date, 6,000 have been ordered at a cost of 34 pence each, totalling £2,040. These cards are not centrally funded, and each business area will cover the costs of the cards they have ordered from their stationery budgets.
	It is not possible to ascertain the specific postage costs relating to these Christmas cards, as all postage is accounted for as a whole, rather than broken down into separate components.
	The Department has a general policy where all post is sent out second class unless it is stated otherwise.

Constituencies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the timetable is for  (a) interim reviews of parliamentary boundaries in particular parts of England and Wales and  (b) the ratification of parliamentary boundaries for Northern Ireland constituencies.

Bridget Prentice: The decision to hold interim reviews of parliamentary constituencies in England and Wales, and the timing of such reviews, rests with the Boundary Commissions for England and Wales respectively, which are independent of Government. The Boundary Commissions for England and Wales will give notice of any interim reviews that they intend to carry out.
	The Boundary Commission for England is currently conducting an interim review of certain constituencies in Northamptonshire and Somerset. Local inquiries have recently been held in relation to the constituencies that are the subject of the review, and the Assistant Commissioners who conducted the inquiries will now prepare their reports for consideration by the Boundary Commission. I understand that the Boundary Commission has decided to suspend the interim review it had previously announced in Northumberland and Wiltshire.
	The Boundary Commission for Wales is currently carrying out an interim review of the parliamentary constituencies of Neath and Brecon and Radnorshire and I understand that it is expected to be completed shortly.
	The Boundary Commissions, once they have completed an interim review, will submit a report of their recommendations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, who will lay the report before Parliament together with a draft Order to give effect to the new boundaries, having allowed a reasonable period for consideration of the report, and, in particular, any representations that may be made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor in respect of specific recommendations. If agreed by Parliament, the report's recommendations will come into force at the next general election.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland proposes to lay the recent report of the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland before Parliament at the earliest opportunity with a draft of an Order in Council giving effect without modifications to the recommendations contained in the report. Again, if agreed by Parliament, the report's recommendations will come into force at the next general election.

Courts: Buildings

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to provide new court buildings in London; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: There are plans to provide new and renovated court buildings at four sites in the London region. Of these, the new Rolls Building in Fetter Lane, which will provide new court facilities for High Court work, the Supreme Court in Parliament Square and an extension to the Crown Court at Isleworth are in construction. A project to provide a new 10-courtroom magistrates court for the City of Westminster in Marylebone Road is in procurement.

Courts: Colchester

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent progress has been made on the private finance initiative project for a new courthouse in Colchester; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Work to finalise the outline business case for the Essex magistrates courts scheme, of which Colchester is a part, is being progressed as one of the priorities within the court building programme. This involves the evaluation of procurement routes, including private finance initiative, to ensure the selected route represents best value for money for the taxpayer. The outline business case is due to be completed early in 2008 and submitted for approval to proceed by the end of the financial year.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of successful claims from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme have been awarded to  (a) private and  (b) public sector workers in each of the last 10 years.

Jack Straw: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) records the occupation of claimants, when provided, under 18 broad categories of occupational type e.g. professional/managerial, clerical, skilled worker, student, unemployed, miscellaneous etc. But it does not ask or record whether they work in the private or public sector, since this information is not necessary for the purposes of determining claims. It is not possible therefore for CICA to provide the information requested.

Crown Courts: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to establish a Crown court in Milton Keynes.

Maria Eagle: There are currently no plans to establish a Crown court in Milton Keynes. However, in June 2007, the then Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, announced a major investment in building six new courts, of which a Crown court at Aylesbury was one.

Data Protection

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the terms of reference are of the review into the way that personal information is shared between and protected by the public and private sector.

Michael Wills: The terms of reference for the independent data sharing review being led by Richard Thomas and Dr. Mark Walport are:
	The review will consider whether there should be any changes to the way the Data Protection Act 1998 operates in the UK and the options for implementing any such changes. It will include recommendations on the powers and sanctions available to the regulator and courts in the legislation governing data sharing and data protection. It will also make recommendations on how data sharing policy should be developed in a way that ensures proper transparency, scrutiny and accountability. To inform its recommendations, the review panel will consult with:
	(a) the devolved Administrations
	(b) the European Commission
	(c) the academic and legal community and the media
	(d) representatives of the IT community and the private sector
	(e) a representative sample of Government departments and agencies with an interest in data sharing and privacy
	(f) other parties identified by the review team
	The recommendations will seek to take account of technological advances and strike a balance that ensures appropriate privacy and other safeguards for individuals and society, while enabling sharing information to protect the public, increasing transparency, enhancing public service delivery as well as taking into account the need to minimise the burden on business.

Departmental Data Protection

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what reviews have been undertaken of his Department's rules on data protection in the last two years; if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the last review of his Department's compliance with data protection laws; and if  (a) his Department and  (b) his Department's agencies will undertake a review of their compliance with data protection laws.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published on 17 December by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement, column 98WS.
	My Department is reviewing the way it handles data alongside the work being carried out by the Cabinet Secretary which will be published in due course.

Departmental Data Protection

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies confidential data have been downloaded on to compact discs (i) without and (ii) with encryption in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; how many of those discs have been posted without using recorded or registered delivery; what procedures his Department has in place for the (A) transport, (B) exchange and (C) delivery of confidential or sensitive data; what records are kept of information held by his Department being sent outside the Department; what changes have been made to his Department's rules and procedures on data protection in the last two years; on how many occasions his Department's procedures and rules on data protection have been breached in the last five years; what those breaches were; what procedures his Department has in place on downloading confidential data on to computer discs before its transfer; what technical protections there are in his Department's computer systems to prevent access to information held on those systems which is not in accordance with departmental procedures; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each of his Department's rules and procedures on the protection of confidential data on individuals, businesses and other organisations.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published on 17 December by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement, column 98WS.
	No information is available on the number of times that confidential data has been downloaded onto compact discs. Downloading, transport, exchange and delivery of sensitive data, and the recording of these actions, is governed by agreed procedures in line with HM Government standards. My Department's main information systems have been designed to operate at a level of security that covers the requirements for handling personal information.
	There is no standard set of rules and procedures required for compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. What is appropriate will depend on the circumstances and the nature of the personal data itself. Accordingly, data protection measures are specific to location, type and sensitivity of the data in question. There is no overarching set of rules and the Department follows HM Government procedures for assessing risks and establishing controls. Therefore the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The definition of 'breach' in data protection rules and procedures can be broad. Depending on their nature, breaches by Government Departments of the Data Protection Act can be dealt with by the information commissioner, the courts or by Departments at an informal local level. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Data Protection

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many employees of each grade in his Department  (a) have access to confidential or sensitive data and  (b) are authorised to download such data to disk; how many of his Department's employees have undergone data protection training in the last 12 months; what the average length of time is that each employee of (i) his Department and (ii) his Department's agencies has spent on data protection training; how many investigations of employees of his Department for improperly accessing confidential information have taken place in the last 12 months; how many such investigations resulted in cases of disciplinary action; and what the circumstances of each of those cases were.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published on 17 December by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement, column 98WS.
	Like all Government Departments, mine provides training to members of staff. It is included in induction for new staff and ad hoc training events where a specific need exists. The information requested on data protection training at (i) and (ii), and for parts  (a) and  (b) of this question is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	There are no recorded instances of employees in my Department being investigated for improperly accessing confidential information in the last 12 months.

Departmental Data Protection

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what procedures are in place in his Department to ensure that personal information relating to members of the public is  (a) stored and  (b) transported securely.

Michael Wills: I refer my right hon. Friend to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS.
	Our new DISC contract, which covers the main HQ, court and tribunal systems, covers security requirements, referring to HMG standards and ISO 17799 (and updates to both) and includes operating procedures covering the carriage of bulky protectively marked assets.
	Paper records, when no longer current, are stored in a secure archive. After no later than 30 years, they are reviewed and either transferred under controlled transport arrangements to the National Archive or destroyed.

Departmental Data Protection

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department's information technology and data management systems are BS7799 compliant.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS.
	All Government Departments are required to ensure that their information technology and data management systems meet the Government standard (known as HMG Infosec Standard 2) which is aligned to BS7799. All MoJ systems comply with the government standard, and are therefore BS7799 compliant.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions the Information Commissioner was contacted by his Department to report breaches of data protection security in each of the last five years.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS.
	My Department does not maintain a central record of breaches of data protection security reported to the Information Commissioner. However, in the last year, I can say that my Department has reported three potential breaches to his office.
	The Information Commissioner's office does not keep records of referrals referenced by Department.
	The information requested about the last five years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many breaches of data protection security there were in  (a) his Department and  (b) his Department's agencies in each of the last five years; and if he will provide details of each breach.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS.
	Depending on their nature, breaches by my Department of the Data Protection Act 1998 can be dealt with by the Information Commissioner, the courts or by my Department at an informal local level. The information requested about the last five years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, in the last year, I can say that my Department has reported three potential breaches to the Information Commissioner's office.

Departmental Data Protection

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he proposes to review how his Department transports data; and whether his Department uses TNT to transport data.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS.
	The review will include data transport arrangements.
	We use TNT as the provider of an archive service for paper records. This is an MoD contract that provides a secure storage facility and is used by MoJ Headquarters, the courts, some tribunals and the prison service. After no later than 30 years, records are reviewed and either transferred under controlled arrangements to the National Archive or destroyed.
	Business units select a delivery firm to take records to the Archive and there is a tight security control to ensure all records are accounted for. TNT are only involved in transport if business units have requested old records back or when they are being returned to our Records Management Service for review.

Departmental Data Protection

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many confirmed security breaches of databases controlled by his Department occurred in each of the last five years; whether the breach resulted from internal or external action in each case; how many records were compromised on each occasion; and what estimate was made of the total number of records accessible to the individuals concerned.

Michael Wills: A small number of incidents have been investigated and no security breach involving loss of information from the Department was found to have occurred.

Departmental Employment Agencies

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff aged between 16 and 18 were employed by his Department and its predecessor  (a) directly and  (b) through an employment agency in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of these were given time off work to undertake some form of training; and what proportion were provided with some form of training (i) wholly and (ii) partially funded by his Department.

Maria Eagle: There are no central figures available based on the age of staff undertaking training and figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Ministry of Justice promotes a range of further education and skills development for all our staff, irrespective of age, and is committed to equality of opportunity for all.

Departmental Parliamentary Questions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff work in his Department's parliamentary branch; and what proportion of their time is spent on dealing with  (a) parliamentary questions and  (b) correspondence from hon. Members and peers.

Maria Eagle: Within the Ministry of Justice there are eight members of staff in the parliamentary branch of which four work solely on parliamentary questions. The correspondence from hon. Members and peers is dealt with by the Ministerial Correspondence Unit of which five work solely on their correspondence.

Departmental Postal Services

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many items of post sent by his Department and its predecessor were reported missing by the intended recipient in each year since 1997.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published on 17 December by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement, column 98WS.
	The Ministry of Justice and its predecessor have no record of any items of post having been reported missing since 1997.

Departmental Telephone Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which telephone contact centres are the responsibility of his Department; what mechanisms are in place to monitor their effectiveness; and how many people have been employed in each of those centres in each year since they were established.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice funds the following helpline and telephone contact centres, listed in the table, with staffing figures for the last two years:
	
		
			   Last year (full-time equivalent)  This year (full-time equivalent) 
			 Community Legal Advice (CLA) 100.5 179.4 
			 National Debtline 62 88 
			 Duty Solicitor Call Centre (DSCC) (headcount) 79 162 
			 Criminal Defence Service Direct (CDS) (headcount) 40 46 
			 National Mediation Helpline 5 5 
			 Prisoners Abroad 4 4 
			 NACRO Resettlement Helpline (National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders) 5 5 
			 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) 3.95 4.25 
			 The National Archives n/a 4.6 
			 Sentence Calculation 2 2 
			 Home Detention and Curfew and Release on Temporary Licence 2.25 2.25 
			 Family Mediation Helpline 2 2 
			 Victims Helpline 0.2 0.2 
			 The Information Commissioners Office Helplines (ICO)(1) (2)22 (2)22 
			 n/a - not available at this time. (1 )The Ministry of Justice provides a grant in aid for the ICO's Freedom of Information (FOI) responsibilities. The ICO maintains two helplines (which cover their data protection and FOI responsibilities), of which they are responsible for monitoring the performance and effectiveness. Performance figures are passed on to the Ministry of Justice for information. It was not possible to accurately separate staff figures specifically for the helplines. (2 )approx.  Note:  Information that is not available at this time will be provided in due course. 
		
	
	In addition to these, the Department will be funding the Prisoners' Families Helpline for 2008-09 and also plans to launch the Mubarak Trust Helpline as a pilot scheme in Feltham next year.
	There are a variety of mechanisms in place across the Department with which Ministers monitor the telephone contact centres' effectiveness. For example, CLA is operated by the Legal Services Commission which is established by the Access to Justice Act 1999. Others are operated by their policy teams under service level agreements.
	We are currently surveying high level information on helplines funded by all Government Departments (as a distinct subset of contact centres), for the purpose of exploring the scope for greater co-ordination. We intend to publish aggregate information on the data collated and analysed in spring 2008.

Departmental Telephone Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department collects and monitors in relation to the telephone contact centres for which his Department is responsible.

Maria Eagle: At present, my Department collects a wide variety of information on the telephone contact centres it funds for the purpose of monitoring performance. Further information is given in answer to another question from the hon. Member.
	The Ministry of Justice has recently launched an online survey for all publicly funded helplines across Government. This collects high level information such as annual cost, funding, staff numbers and pay, opening hours and co-ordination with other helplines. All helplines funded by the Department have completed the survey.
	The Contact Council is also collecting more detailed information from all contact centres, measuring their performance and effectiveness against 26 set indicators.
	These initiatives will result in increased standardisation in the information collected to monitor performance of telephone contact centres.

Departmental Telephone Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much each telephone contact centre for which his Department is responsible has  (a) cost and  (b) generated in income in each financial year since their establishment.

Maria Eagle: The following table shows the cost of each helpline and telephone contact centre that the Ministry of Justice funds for the latest available years in each case:
	
		
			  £ 
			   2005-06  2006-07 
			 Community Legal Advice (CLA) 5,439,163 9,562,564 
			 National Debtline 3,539,432 3,972,448 
			 Duty Solicitor Call Centre (DSCC) 2,818,000 3,096,136 
			 Criminal Defence Service Direct (CDS) 534,000 1,369,943 
			 National Mediation Helpline 75,998 43,147 
			 Prisoners Abroad 1,009,000 1,009,000 
			 NACRO Resettlement Helpline (National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders') 277,842 284,788 
			 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority 180,000 188,000 
			 The National Archives Not available at this time. 140,388 (approx based on one quarter) 
			 Sentence Calculation (1)90,100 (1)90,100 
			 Home Detention and Curfew and Release on Temporary Licence (1)76,375 (1)76,375 
			 Family Mediation Helpline Not available at this time. 57,428 
			 Victims Helpline (1)3,325 (1)3,325 
			 The Information Commissioners Office Helplines (2)No direct information available (2)No direct information available 
			 (1) These costs relate to in-house telephone helplines and are therefore an estimate of staff costs. (2 )The Ministry of Justice provides a grant in aid for the ICO's Freedom of Information (FOI) responsibilities. The ICO maintains two helplines which cover the ICO's data protection and FOI responsibilities. It was not possible to separate cost figures specifically for the helplines. 
		
	
	The National Debtline and NACRO are the only telephone contact centres that have a generated income. The following table shows these figures:
	
		
			  £ 
			   2005-06  2006-07 
			 National Debtline 323,548 592,432 
			 NACRO Resettlement Helpline (National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders) 23,727 5,724

Detention Centres: Children

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the longest period is for which a child under 16 has been detained in  (a) prison awaiting trial and  (b) an immigration detention centre awaiting a decision on their asylum status in the last 10 years.

David Hanson: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only by examining the time each child under 16 has spent on remand and in an immigration centre awaiting a decision on their asylum status at a disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government has taken to increase conviction rates for domestic violence.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 13 December 2007
	I have been asked to reply.
	The National Delivery Plan for Domestic Violence has an objective to improve the criminal justice response to domestic violence. This objective includes actions to increase reporting, arrests and conviction rates for domestic violence. Specific actions undertaken to increase the conviction rates for domestic violence include:
	The continued expansion of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) Programme. From April this year, 64 SDVCs are operational, with more planned which will bring the total to over 100.
	Guidance and training is being rolled out to all police officers and Crown prosecutors to improve investigations and increase successful prosecutions for domestic violence.
	Domestic Violence Co-ordinators have been identified in all police force and Crown Prosecution Service areas to co-ordinate individual agencies' responses to domestic violence.
	Funding has been made available for Independent Domestic Violence Advisers, whose involvement with victims of domestic violence has been shown to reduce the number of victims unwilling to support a prosecution.
	These steps are having a positive effect: successful prosecutions for domestic violence cases rose from 46 per cent. in a December 2003 'snapshot' to 65 per cent. during the whole of 2006-07, exceeding the target of 64 per cent. By September 2007, successful prosecutions had reached 68 per cent.

Driving Under the Influence

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many road accidents in Copeland resulted in prosecutions for driving under the influence of alcohol in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: Information on road accidents is a matter for the Department for Transport.
	The information on prosecutions held centrally by my Department does not identify the circumstances of cases and therefore, in the case of drink driving offences, whether an accident was involved. The only case information captured for such prosecutions, apart from the court results for individual offences, is the age and gender of the defendant.

Elections

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to undertake further electoral innovation pilot schemes in the 2008  (a) local and  (b) Greater London Authority elections.

Michael Wills: It is not intended to undertake electoral innovation pilot schemes in the 2008  (a) local and  (b) Greater London Authority elections. However, the Government remain committed to exploring the use of technology to modernise aspects of the electoral process, including to make it more accessible.

Elections: Supermarkets

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment has been made of the consequences for retail competition policy of voting pilots in supermarkets.

Michael Wills: Advance voting in retail venues was piloted in Swindon borough council at the May 2007 local elections. They were also used by three local authorities at the May 2006 local elections. These were in the London borough of Lewisham, Rushmoor borough council and Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council.
	Voting however has not taken place inside supermarkets although mobile polling stations for advance voting were located in two supermarket car parks in the 2006 Lewisham pilot.
	No assessment will be made of the consequences for retail competition policy of voting pilots in supermarkets until there is an intention to extend such pilots more widely.

Electoral Systems

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to publish the review of electoral systems; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The Government have completed a review of the experience of the voting systems introduced in the United Kingdom since 1997 and are making the review ready for publication as soon as possible.

European Convention on Access to Official Documents

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what differences there are between the requirements of the Council of Europe's draft European Convention on Access to Official Documents and the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to public authorities in the UK.

Michael Wills: The Government welcome the work that has been carried out by the Group of Specialists on Access to Official Documents in drawing up a draft convention. The Government are keen that there should be a robust convention along the lines of the Freedom of Information Act. The draft convention lays down principles relating to access, whereas the Freedom of Information Act 2000 sets out the detailed provisions of the access regime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In relation to coverage of public authorities the scope of the convention is broadly the same as the Freedom of Information Act, where it will be open to parties to the convention to broaden the definition of "public authorities" beyond an obligatory minimum standard. The Government are currently seeking views on whether to use the powers under section 5 of the Freedom of Information Act and extend the coverage of the Act and if so, which organisations it should consider.
	The Group of Specialists will meet again in February 2008 to develop a draft Explanatory Memorandum.

Fixed Penalties

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many fixed penalty notices for disorder were issued by Humberside police in each year since their introduction, broken down by category.

Maria Eagle: Information on the number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued in Humberside, by offence, from 2004 to 2006 is provided in the following table. The PND scheme was extended to all 43 police forces in England and Wales in 2004.
	
		
			  Number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued to offenders ages 16 and over, Humberside police force area, 2004—06( 1) 
			  Offence description  2004  2005  2006 
			  Higher tier offences
			 Wasting police time 12 32 76 
			 Misuse of public telecommunications system 5 2 22 
			 Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority 1 — 2 
			 Causing harassment, alarm or distress 928 1,957 2,306 
			 Throwing fireworks 2 5 14 
			 Drunk and disorderly 604 679 1,003 
			 Sale of alcohol to under 18(2) 2 45 48 
			 Purchasing alcohol for under 18(2) — 2 13 
			 Purchasing alcohol for under 18 for consumption on premises — 1 — 
			 Delivery of alcohol to under 18(2) — 1 4 
			 Criminal Damage (under £500)(2) 16 182 719 
			 Theft (retail under 200)(2) 14 329 1,221 
			 Breach of fireworks curfew(3) — 1 — 
			 Possession of category 4 firework(3) — 1 — 
			 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework(3) — 3 1 
			 Sale of alcohol to drunken person(4) n/a — . 
			 Supply of alcohol to person under 18 n/a — 1 
			 
			  Lower tier offences
			 Trespass on a railway — 1 — 
			 Throwing stones at a train/railway 2 — — 
			 Drunk in a highway 1 5 13 
			 Consumption of alcohol in public place 7 8 30 
			 Depositing and leaving litter 2 6 15 
			 Consumption of alcohol by under 18 on licensed premises(2) — 4 — 
			 Allowing consumption of alcohol for under 18(2) — — — 
			 Buying alcohol by under 18(4) n/a 1 2 
			 Total 1,596 3,265 5,490 
			 n/a= Not applicable.  (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (2) Offence added with effect from 1 November 2004.  (3) Offence added with effect from 11 October 2004.  (4) Offence added with effect from 4 April 2005.

Fraud: Elections

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the timetable is for the full implementation of provisions on requiring signatures in polling stations.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have previously explained that they intend to bring forward primary legislation to provide a clear requirement for electors in polling stations to sign for their ballot paper, and for the ballot paper to be withheld should an elector refuse to sign. We will bring forward such legislation when parliamentary time allows.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance his Department, or the former Department for Constitutional Affairs, provided on the maximum amount of time a public authority can take to assess the public interest when responding to a validly constituted Freedom of Information request.

Michael Wills: Guidance provided by my Department for Freedom of Information practitioners states that any additional time taken in responding to a request to assess the public interest must be "realistic and reasonable in the circumstances of the particular case". The guidance can be found in full in the Procedural guidance on our website:
	http://www.foi.gov.uk/guidance/proguide/chap06.htm

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will use his powers to designate regional chambers as public authorities for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Michael Wills: The Government are currently consulting on extending the coverage of the Freedom of Information Act to those bodies that carry out the function of a public nature and to contractors who provide services which are a function of that public authority. This consultation paper can be found at http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/cp2707.htm
	This consultation will conclude on 1 February 2008. Following analysis of the responses, the Government will decide whether to make a section 5 order and, if so which bodies to consult about whether they, or organisations they represent, should be brought within the ambit of the Act. My Department will consider the case for regional chambers as part of the consultation process.

High Court: Birmingham

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to reply to the letter of 3 November from the hon. Member for Beaconsfield on a permanent high court in Birmingham.

Jack Straw: I replied to the hon. Member on 10 December.

Hollesley Bay Prison: Prisoners Escape

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how long on average prisoners who have absconded from HM Prison Hollesley Bay in the last six years have been at large.

Maria Eagle: Statistics are not available for the year 2002-03. The figures in the following table relate to the average number of days from abscond to recapture of those determinate sentence prisoners who absconded from Hollesley Bay in each of the past five years up to the end of September 2007. Averages such as these can be heavily skewed by one or two prisoners remaining at large for long periods. For example in 2003-04, four absconds were caught the day they absconded, and in total 28 were recaptured within a month.
	
		
			   Average time at large 
			 2003-04 43 
			 2004-05 50 
			 2005-06 78 
			 2006-07 67 
			 2007-08 (end September)(1) 18 
			 (1 )Figures recorded for 2007-08 are provisional and subject to change.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what records the Land Registry keeps of the number and location of zero carbon homes.

Michael Wills: Her Majesty's Land Registry does not hold any records relating to zero carbon rating homes. The strategy to make all new homes zero carbon by 2016 comes under the jurisdiction of the Department for Communities and Local Government. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs may collate statistics relating to homes qualifying for zero carbon tax relief through the monitoring of stamp duty land tax, following the introduction of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (Zero-Carbon Homes Relief) Regulations on 7 December 2007.

Immigration

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding has been allocated to Lord Goldsmith's citizenship review.

Michael Wills: The allocated funding for Lord Goldsmith's citizenship review is £200,000 excluding staff costs. Lord Goldsmith is not receiving any remuneration for undertaking this review.

Land Registry

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons the Land Registry is introducing new triggers to require compulsory land registration.

Michael Wills: Section 5 of the Land Registration Act 2002 confers power on the Lord Chancellor, exercisable by statutory instrument, to prescribe additional events that trigger compulsory first registration of title to land. Land Registry has recently issued a consultation paper, on behalf of the Lord Chancellor, seeking views on the introduction of two new trigger events, aimed at making further progress towards a comprehensive land register. The events proposed are the appointment of a new trustee and the partition of land among trust beneficiaries. The consultation period runs from 19 November 2007 to 29 February 2008. No decision will be made about the introduction of new triggers until all responses to the consultation have been evaluated.

Land Registry

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Land Registry is taking to prevent the online register from being  (a) abused and  (b) accessed illegally.

Michael Wills: Land Registry constantly keeps such matters under review and is continuously reviewing the security control and access restrictions in place for its internal and external online systems. Land Registry withdrew access to documents available electronically via Land Registry Online on 5 November 2007 and believes this to be a positive step that will help to alleviate the risk of misuse. It would be inappropriate to give details of the specific measures Land Registry has in place to combat abuse and illegal access or those it is considering introducing. Land Registry does have in place a robust anti-fraud strategy and all measures in place are regularly reviewed and revised, with a view to strengthening the protection they provide. Land Registry is working with the police and other organisations to refine its strategy and to develop its expertise in this area.

Land Registry Direct

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether  (a) HM Revenue and Customs,  (b) the Valuation Office Agency and  (c) the Valuation and Lands Agency are business users of the Land Registry Direct service.

Michael Wills: Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the Valuation Office Agency have business user accounts with Land Registry Direct. The Valuation and Lands Agency does not.

Legal Advice

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to increase funding allocated to legal advice for travellers on planning issues.

Maria Eagle: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has no plans to do so.

Legal Aid Scheme: ICT

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the value is of the IT contract for a new online reporting system for legal aid claims by solicitors;
	(2)  which company was awarded the contract to supply a new online reporting system for legal aid claims by solicitors;
	(3)  whether the online reporting system for legal aid claims by solicitors is operational.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) on 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1260W.

Legal Aid: Hercules Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  who informed the press that the Australian Government would be paying the legal expenses of Kellie Merritt at the forthcoming inquest into deaths of service personnel on the Hercules aircraft shot down in Iraq;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to provide legal aid and assistance to the British families at the forthcoming inquest into the deaths of personnel on the Hercules aircraft shot down in Iraq.

Maria Eagle: Representation at inquests is outside of the usual scope of the legal aid scheme as set out in the Access to Justice Act 1999 and other documents laid before Parliament. However, it can be made available in exceptional circumstances. There are published criteria that help determine whether a case is exceptional. Applications for exceptional funding must first be made to the Legal Services Commission (LSC). The Ministry understands that applications, in relation to the inquests into the deaths of personnel on the Hercules XV179 shot down in Iraq in January 2005, are currently being considered by the LSC. Only where the LSC considers that the exceptional criteria are met will the applications be passed to the Ministry of Justice for final determination. The Government have not advised the press about any representation of other parties at those inquests.

Legal Services Commission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what payments have been made by  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) the Legal Services Commission to the Community Legal Partnership in each of the last four years.

Maria Eagle: The following table gives the payments made by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to the Community Law Partnership. The LSC has no dealings with the Community Legal Partnership.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 855,972 
			 2004-05 786,335 
			 2005-06 803,878 
			 2006-07 1,049,085

Members' Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many letters his Department and its predecessors received from hon. Members and Peers in each session of Parliament since 1997.

Bridget Prentice: The information, which is also available in the Library of the House, is listed as follows.
	
		
			  Calendar year  Number of letters received from MPs/Peers 
			 1997 2,458 
			 1998 2,672 
			 1999 2,038 
			 2000 1,844 
			 2001 1,737 
			 2002 2,577 
			 2003 2,746 
			 2004 3,516 
			 2005 3,179 
			 2006 3,524 
		
	
	The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members' and Peers' correspondence. Information relating to 2007 will be published as soon as it has been collated.

Minimum Wage

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many London-based staff are employed by his Department on the national minimum wage.

Michael Wills: No member of staff employed by the Ministry of Justice in London is paid on (or below) the national minimum wage.

Ministerial Duties: Public Sector

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which Minister has responsibility for public sector information.

Michael Wills: I am the Minister responsible for the Office of Public Sector Information. The Department for Constitutional Affairs, the predecessor to the Ministry of Justice, took over responsibility for public sector information from the Cabinet Office on 31 October 2006.

New Hall Young Offenders Institution: Injuries

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what injuries were incurred by girls held in New Hall Young Offenders Institution during control and restraint in each month in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007.

Maria Eagle: There were two control and restraint incidents at New Hall that led to injuries, as follows:
	January 2006—sore right wrist; and
	February 2007—mark on left hand side of face.

Offenders: Crimes of Violence

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners are serving indeterminate sentences for public protection for  (a) sexual assault,  (b) sexual assault against a child,  (c) sexual activity with a child and  (d) arson.

David Hanson: A research study into prisoners received into prisons in England and Wales under Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection (IPP) between April 2005 and March 2006, showed that  (a) 13 offenders were given an IPP for sexual assault,  (b) 14 offenders were given an IPP for sexual assault of a child under 13,  (c) 14 offenders were given an IPP for sexual activity with a child and  (d) 44 offenders were given an IPP for arson. These figures were published in chapter 11 of Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2005, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems and data returns from prison establishments which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Personal Records: Data Protection

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken to protect the personal data on members of the public which it holds.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published on 17 December by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement, column 98WS.
	The Ministry of Justice has procedures and guidance covering security, information security and data protection designed to identify and control the risk of the unauthorised release of personal data taking place. They include:
	Ensuring our sites are physically secure and protected from unauthorised access;
	Ensuring our employees are reliable through checks on background;
	Providing guidance to staff on general security with separate guidance on IT security and data protection issues;
	Procedures for assessing IT systems;
	We also have systems for monitoring and checking compliance.
	These policies and procedures extend to our contracted IT suppliers.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what meetings he has held on party funding with Mr. Peter Watt in the last 12 months.

Jack Straw: In my capacity as Secretary of State for Justice I have not held any meetings in the last 12 months with Mr. Peter Watt on party funding.
	I have furthermore met with Mr. Peter Watt several times in my capacity as one of my party's representatives at the cross party talks.

Political Parties: Finance

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answers of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 515W, on political parties: finance, if he will place in the Library copies of the Inter-Party Talks' minutes and background papers which are classed as held by his Department for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act.

Jack Straw: Some information, consisting of papers for the parties to the talks and minutes of the talks, was shared with the Ministry of Justice and is for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act held by my Department. I am not releasing this information at this time because it was provided in confidence.

Political Parties: Finance

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 524W, on trade unions, whether the funding of political parties was discussed on any of the six occasions.

Jack Straw: In my capacity as Secretary of State, I have not held any meetings with trade unions specifically to discuss the funding of political parties. I have furthermore had such meetings as one of my party's representatives on the cross party talks.
	At the meetings referred to in my answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 524W, a variety of topics were discussed. Party funding was not on the agenda for any of these meetings but my recollection is that I did touch on the issue informally with representatives of trade unions affiliated to the Labour party at one or other of these meetings, as they were breaking up, and without officials.

Political Parties: Finance

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what meetings and discussions he has had with Sir Hayden Phillips and his representatives on electoral law on donations to political parties.

Jack Straw: I have met with Sir Hayden Phillips several times in my capacity as one of my party's representatives at the cross party talks led by Sir Hayden and spoken to him on the telephone from time to time though the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that as Sir Hayden's review was established by Her Majesty's Government, it is not possible to wholly separate its role from that of the Secretary of State. I have not however had any meetings with Sir Hayden in either capacity since June 2007 other than at the cross party talks.

Prison Service

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many temporary promotions have been authorised by the Deputy Director General of HM Prison Service in each of the years since he took the appointment as  (a) Deputy Director General and  (b) Director of Operations; what the reasons for approving each were; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The Director of Operations authorised the following temporary promotions as set out in the table. He has not authorised any temporary promotions as Deputy Director General.
	
		
			  Temporary  p romotions  a uthorised by the Director of Operations 
			  Date  Number of temporary promotions  Reason 
			 November 2003 One New post pending permanent recruitment 
			 January 2006 Two To cover maternity leave 
			 October 2006 One New post pending permanent recruitment

Prison Service

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will reinstate purposeful activity as a key performance indicator in the Prison Service.

Maria Eagle: There are no current plans to reinstate purposeful activity as a key performance indicator (KPI). Purposeful activity ceased to be a KPI in 2004-05 because Ministers agreed that KPIs introduced in respect of education, rehabilitation and resettlement, provide a much better demonstration of the efforts to equip prisoners to be less likely to offend on release. Purposeful activity remains an establishment key performance target and performance is regularly monitored by operational managers.

Prison Service

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many investigations by the prisons and probation ombudsman have been assisted by the lead investigator for the Tasker inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The lead investigator for the Tasker inquiry has assisted in a total of 13 investigations by the prisons and probation ombudsman which were carried out during 2005 and 2006.

Prison Service

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many inquiries into deaths in custody by the prisons and probation ombudsman have been  (a) led and  (b) assisted by the lead investigator for the Tasker inquiry since the inquiry was established; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Since the Tasker inquiry was established, its lead investigator has been employed to complete an investigation into one death in custody on behalf of the prisons and probation ombudsman. The investigation had been started by one of the ombudsman's investigative staff who had subsequently had to take long-term sick leave. Additionally, the lead investigator to the Tasker inquiry has been involved in follow up work to some other investigations which took place prior to the Tasker inquiry being established.

Prison Service

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether those conducting investigations for the prisons and probation ombudsman may also conduct investigations on behalf of HM Prison Service; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Staff who are in the direct employment of the office of the prisons and probation ombudsman do not conduct investigations on behalf of HM Prison Service. A number of self-employed investigators are retained by the office and are occasionally called upon to carry out investigations in periods when staff resources are stretched. They are free to enter into other employment when they are not doing work for the office of the prisons and probation ombudsman.

Prison Service: Sick Leave

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 16 May 2007,  Official Report, column 787W, on prison service: sick leave, how many staff are currently off work sick in HM Prison Service with stress; how many staff were off work sick with stress for a period of  (a) less than one week,  (b) between one and two weeks,  (c) between two weeks and a month,  (d) between one and two months,  (e) between two and three months,  (f) between three and four months,  (g) between four and five months,  (h) between five and six months and  (i) more than six months in the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is as follows:
	 Public Sector Prison Service
	At the latest date that figures are available (30 November 2007) there were 465 staff absent from the public sector Prison Service for reasons classified as 'Mental and Behavioural Disorders' - predominately stress related. Information on the number of cases of 'Mental and Behavioural' absences by length of absence over the last two complete years is shown in the following table. The information refers to all stress related absences, whether they were work-related or not. The average total workforce during this period was 48,817 and therefore the current number absent due to 'Mental and Behavioural Disorders' is less than 1 per cent. of total workforce.
	
		
			  Mental and behavioural absences in the public sector prison service by length: April 2005 to March 2007 
			  Length of absence  Cases 
			 < 1 week 1,243 
			 1 to 2 weeks 732 
			 2 weeks to 1 month 1,532 
			 1 to 2 months 1,238 
			 2 to 3 months 707 
			 3 to 4 months 433 
			 4 to 5 months 320 
			 5 to 6 months 243 
			 More than 6 months 551 
		
	
	 Contracted Prisons
	HMP and YOI Parc has reported that no staff are currently absent due to stress. No other contracted establishments have reported information on the number of current absentees.
	Information from the contracted estate is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Absences due to stress at contracted prisons over the past two years 
			  Length of Absence  Cases( 1) 
			 < 1 week 9 
			 1 to 2 weeks 8 
			 2 weeks to 1 month 15 
			 1 to 2 months 11 
			 2 to 3 months 10 
			 3 to 4 months 0 
			 4 to 5 months 0 
			 5 to 6 months 1 
			 More than 6 months 8 
			 (1) Information has been provided for four contracted prisons: Parc, Altcourse, Rye Hill and Wolds. No information has been supplied for: Ashfield, Bronzefield, Dovegate, Doncaster, Forest Bank, Lowdham Grange and Peterborough.

Prisoner Escapes

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners absconded from each  (a) prison and  (b) young offender institution in London in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The number of incidents of prisoners absconding from prisons in the London area in each of the last 10 years is shown in the following table. This information is also available for all prisons at the Prison Service website
	www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk
	
		
			  The number of incidents of prisoners absconding from prisons in the London area between 1997-98 and 2006-07 
			  Establishment  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  Total 
			 HMP Belmarsh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 HMP Brixton 0 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 
			 HMP Bronzefield 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 HMYOI Feltham 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 HMP Holloway 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 HMP Latchmere House 2 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 6 
			 HMP Pentonville 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 HMP Wandsworth 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 6 
			 HMP Wormwood Scrubs 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 
			 Total 3 2 1 4 3 4 5 1 0 0 23

Prisoners

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of all released prisoners were reconvicted for further offences committed in the first 18 days after release in the last year for which data are available.

David Hanson: Reoffending rates for 18 days following release from prison are not routinely calculated. Reoffending rates have historically been calculated over a two year period and the most recent figures for adults released from prison in England and Wales are shown in the table.
	Two year reoffending rates of adults released from prison, based on the first quarter of each year
	
		
			   Reoffending rate (percentage) 
			 2000 64.8 
			 2002 67.4 
			 2003 65.8 
			 2004 64.7 
		
	
	Reoffending rates by month of re-offence are illustrated in figure 3 of "Re-offending of Adults: results from the 2004 cohort" publication. This information is currently not available for prison discharges only. This publication be can be found online at
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb0607.pdf

Prisoners Transfers

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 1259-60W, for what offences the 11 prisoners transferred to prisons in England and Wales from prisons in Northern Ireland since 2000 were serving sentences; and what the grounds for transfer were.

David Hanson: The transfer of prisoners between UK jurisdictions is governed by schedule 1 to the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. Each application is assessed on its individual merits, taking into consideration:
	(i) the purpose for which the transfer is requested;
	(ii) whether the prisoner was ordinarily resident in the jurisdiction to which transfer is sought prior to the imposition of the current sentence; or whether members of the prisoner's close family are resident in that jurisdiction and there are reasonable grounds for believing that the prisoner will receive regular visits from them; or whether the prisoner has demonstrated through preparations that he has made for his life following release from prison that he intends to reside in the receiving jurisdiction upon release and he is in the later stages of his sentence;
	(iii) whether there are grounds for believing that the prisoner may disrupt or attempt to disrupt any prison establishment, or pose an unacceptable risk to security; and
	(iv) any compelling or compassionate circumstances.
	The application of each prisoner transferred from Northern Ireland since 2000 met one of the conditions for transfer set out.
	Information on the offences committed by each of the prisoners is not centrally held. I will write to the hon. Member once the information is available.

Prisoners: Deportation

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the number of foreign national prisoners who will qualify under the exemptions contained in the UK Borders Act 2007 from automatic deportation expressed as a percentage of foreign national prisoners in the prison and immigration removal estate.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	I am advised that based on our experience of deportations appeals and immigration cases currently subject to the non-suspensive appeals process, we are confident that most individuals subject to the new legislation will not fall within one of the exemptions.

Prisoners: Diets

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will eliminate fast and convenience foods from the diets of those in custody in  (a) prisons and  (b) young offenders' institutions; and if he will provide supplements aimed at improving behaviour, concentration and health into such diets.

Maria Eagle: The 2006 National Audit Office report HM Prison Service Serving Time: Prisoner Diet and Exercise noted that on the whole food offered to prisoners is in line with the Government's recommendations on healthy eating. Research into the effect on behaviour of nutritional supplements is planned to take place in two young offender institutions.

Prisoners: Drugs

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people who have served jail sentences for drug related offences later re-offended in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Hanson: Information is not available on re-offending by offenders released from prison having been convicted of drug offences. The most recently published adult re-offending figures ("Re-offending of Adults: Results from the 2004 Cohort") cover offenders released from prison and offenders commencing community sentences in England and Wales in the first quarter of 2004. Of those who were convicted of offences relating to the import, export, production or supply of drugs, 31.4 per cent. re-offended within two years. For drug possession and small scale supply offences this figure was 48.2 per cent.
	These numbers relate to specific drugs offences only (including the possession and supply of drugs) and not to other offences (such as those involving acquisitive crime) which may be related to drugs issues of the offender.

Prisoners: Drugs

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what proportion of those persons serving community service sentences are doing so for drug-related offences;
	(2)  how many people are serving community service sentences for drug-related offences.

David Hanson: On 30 June 2007, there were 5,470 persons (rounded to nearest 10) being supervised by the probation service under community sentences given for drugs offences. This represents some 5 per cent. of all persons being supervised under community sentences on that date. These numbers relate to specific drugs offences only (including the possession and supply of drugs) and not to other offences (such as those involving acquisitive crime) which may be related to drugs issues of the offender.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Drugs

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what proportion of those persons on remand are on remand for drug-related offences;
	(2)  how many people are on remand for drug-related offences;
	(3)  what proportion of those persons serving jail sentences are doing so for drug-related offences;
	(4)  how many people are serving jail sentences for drug-related offences.

David Hanson: At the end of October 2007 there were 12,996 prisoners being held on remand in all prison establishments in England and Wales, of which 1,874 were for drug offences, or 14 per cent.
	At the end of October 2007 there were 66,477 prisoners serving sentences in all prison establishments in England and Wales of which 10,526 were for drug offences, or 16 per cent..
	This information is obtainable from the Population in Custody Monthly Tables at the website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/population-in-custody-oct07.pdf
	These numbers relate to specific drugs offences only (including the possession and supply of drugs) and not to other offences (such as those involving acquisitive crime) which may be related to drugs issues of the offender.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Drugs

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to combat the circulation and possession of illegal drugs in Chelmsford prison; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: HMP/YOI Chelmsford is taking many steps to tackle the supply of drugs including searching, perimeter security and close liaison with other agencies. It would not be appropriate for operational reasons to give details of the strategies currently in place.

Prisoners: Employment

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will introduce a key performance indicator target for prison establishments to provide a full working day for prisoners.

Maria Eagle: There are no plans to introduce a KPI to measure a full working day for prisoners. Currently, the Prison Service has KPIs for offending behaviour, drug treatment and employment and accommodation on release. These measures reflect the key work of the Prison Service in making prisoners less likely to reoffend.

Prisoners: Foreigners

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection for an offence of rape or attempted rape have a tariff of  (a) under two years,  (b) two years or more but less than four years and  (c) four years or more.

David Hanson: A research study into prisoners received into prisons in England and Wales under Indeterminate Sentences for Public Protection (IPP) between April 2005 and March 2006 found that 46 IPPs had been given for rape or attempted rape. Of these 46, two had a tariff of under two years; 21 had a tariff of two years to less than four years; and 20 had a four year plus tariff (tariff details were not provided for the remaining three).
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems and data returns from prison establishments which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Mentoring

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans the Government have to expand the role of mentoring in helping prisoners develop employable skills.

David Hanson: In December 2006, the Government set out in the document 'Reducing Re-offending through Skills and Employment: Next Steps' their plans for improving the skills and employment outcomes for all offenders in custody and in the community. A key element of this plan involves engaging employers to work with offenders and ex-offenders. Many employers offer training programmes which not only teach vocational skills but also involve mentoring in order to develop softer skills and improve employability. These softer skills include job searching, CV preparation, interview techniques and customer service.
	Mentoring is also a vital service offered by voluntary and community sector organisations. There are several projects running across the country where these organisations work in partnership with Probation Boards, the Prison Service and the regional government offices to remove barriers to employment for offenders, including via mentoring on release from custody.
	The Government's aim is to facilitate the sharing of good practice and lessons learnt from all the above examples of mentoring to encourage further and wider use of the methods which are proven to work best in improving skills and employability of offenders.

Prisoners: Police Custody

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were held in police cells in each police force area in each of the last five years; and at what estimated cost in each year.  [Official Report, 20 February 2008, Vol. 472, c. 8MC.]

David Hanson: Prisoners are either held in police cells under Operation Safeguard or as ad-hoc "lockouts".
	Operation Safeguard was used in 2006 and 2007. Table 1 shows the number of occasions on which prisoners have been held in police cells under Operation Safeguard in each police force area in England and Wales in 2006 and 2007. (One occasion is defined as one prisoner night spent in a police cell.)
	
		
			  Table 1: The number of occasions on which prisoners were held in police cells under Operation Safeguard 
			  Police force area  2006  2007 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 132 
			 Bedfordshire 0 389 
			 Cambridgeshire 212 1,157 
			 Cheshire 103 4,038 
			 Cleveland 0 4 
			 Cumbria 0 318 
			 Derbyshire 113 439 
			 Devon and Cornwall 38 1,803 
			 Dorset 71 355 
			 Durham 42 1,090 
			 Dyfed Powys 1 615 
			 Essex 1,009 3,963 
			 Gloucestershire 0 17 
			 Greater Manchester 15 2,800 
			 Gwent 0 839 
			 Hampshire 65 1,384 
			 Hertfordshire 40 1,170 
			 Humberside 0 84 
			 Kent 335 3,292 
			 Lancashire 0 1,636 
			 Leicestershire 0 2,689 
			 Lincolnshire 168 1,446 
			 Merseyside 196 165 
			 Metropolitan 333 9,799 
			 Norfolk 0 20 
			 North Wales 14 1,619 
			 North Yorkshire 0 39 
			 Northamptonshire 219 1,187 
			 Northumbria 0 1,113 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 184 
			 South Wales 81 1,254 
			 South Yorkshire 0 935 
			 Staffordshire 0 2 
			 Suffolk 83 1,085 
			 Surrey 0 107 
			 Sussex 338 258 
			 Thames Valley 433 2,627 
			 Warwickshire 93 1,086 
			 West Mercia 0 55 
			 West Midlands 570 6,237 
			 West Yorkshire 45 3,432 
			 Wiltshire 0 89 
		
	
	The police forces involved in Operation Safeguard charge NOMS for the cost of making cells available to accommodate prisoners. As invoices are received in arrears and may be subject to variable costs dependent upon individual prisoner and other circumstances, cost per year by force cannot be accurately calculated. However, the average estimated cost of holding a prisoner in a police cell under Operation Safeguard is currently in the region of £385 per night.
	Table 2 shows the total numbers of prisoners accommodated overnight in police cells as ad-hoc lockouts.
	Ad-hoc lockout data are not available for individual police forces and are approximate due to diverse recording methods.
	
		
			  Table 2: The number of prisoners held in police cells as ad-hoc lockouts 
			   Number 
			 2003 1,037 
			 2004 682 
			 2005 918 
			 2006 1,062 
			 2007 126 
		
	
	The agreed basic charge for ad-hoc lockouts is £55 per prisoner per night. Police forces may invoice additional charges to cover weekend and bank holidays, medical charges and the need for additional staff. The average cost is therefore estimated to be £120 per prisoner per night.

Prisoners: Release

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in how many cases the current residential address of a  (a) former convicted prisoner and  (b) foreign national former prisoner subject to supervision following release is not known.

David Hanson: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as the data are retained in probation office files, and would have to be collated manually as there is no appropriate search function within the databases.

Prisons

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many existing prison places he plans to withdraw in each year until 2014.

David Hanson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor announced on 5 December 2007 in response to the review on prisons by Lord Carter an additional 10,500 prison places by 2014 including up to three large 'Titan' prisons, housing around 2,500 prisoners each.
	The Carter Review proposed that this increase in capacity will allow the Government to close around 5,000 places in old, inefficient prisons by 2014. Decisions on and the timetable for which prisons should be closed or places removed from use will be made as the programme for these new prison places is developed.
	In addition, there is a planned rolling programme of refurbishment of accommodation across the prison estate, which requires the temporary closure of prison places. This allows the critical maintenance of the estate to be undertaken whilst having no significant net change on the number of places in use.

Prisons: Education

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress has been made in expanding the programme of business-led training of prisoners provided by National Grid Transco.

David Hanson: I welcome the work that National Grid is doing to train prisoners and get them into work on release and would support any moves by them to expand their Offender Employment Programme.
	In December 2006, the Government set out in the document "Reducing Re-offending through Skills and Employment: Next Steps" their plans for increasing employer involvement in the delivery of skills and employment programmes for all offenders in custody and in the community. I am encouraged by the ever increasing number of employers engaging with offenders and ex-offenders to improve their skills and employment outcomes.
	Many of these employers, from the public, private and voluntary sectors, are members of our Employer Reference Group which was established in January 2006 to work with the Government and help shape policy on this important area. National Grid is a member of the Group and contributes to the development of employer engagement activities for improving the employment of offenders.

Prisons: Education

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have been released to take part in educational programmes in the community in 2007; and what plans he has to increase that number in future years.

David Hanson: The latest available data on the numbers of releases on temporary licence for training and education relate to 2006, and are published in Offender Management Caseload Statistics (Tables 10.6 and 10.6a), a copy of which is available from the Library of the House and from the following website
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonandprobation.htm
	Prisoners will only be released on temporary licence if they meet the eligibility criteria and pass a risk assessment. Governors have an overriding duty, when considering any release, to ensure that both public safety and public confidence in the system are maintained.
	Data show that numbers of offenders released to take part in educational programmes continues to increase and we will support the Prison Service in maintaining this, subject to the abovementioned concerns being satisfied. It is one of the Government's key objectives to improve the skills and employment outcomes of (ex) offenders as set out in our "Reducing Re-Offending Through Skills and Employment: Next Steps" action plan.

Prisons: Exercise

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will increase the prison rules targets of one hour minimum exercise per week for adult prisoners and two hours minimum for young offenders.

Maria Eagle: There are no current plans to change the minimum exercise requirements contained within Prison and Young Offender Institution Rules. The minimum requirement is, on average, exceeded by both adult prisoners who accept the opportunity for exercise and young offenders (i.e. those in the 15 to 17 and 18 to 20 age groups).

Prisons: Food

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost is of the daily food allowance for prisoners in  (a) prison cells and  (b) police station cells; and when they were last changed.

Maria Eagle: The public sector Prison Service does not set a daily food allowance. Each governor sets a food budget based on the establishment's requirements. The average daily food cost per prisoner in public sector prisons for 2006-07 was £1.97. In establishments operated by the contracted sector this figure ranged from £2.10 to £3.07
	Under the terms of Operation Safeguard, police forces may be reimbursed for the costs of food, at around £12 for each prisoner over a 24 hour period.
	Prisoners are also held as ad-hoc lockouts (i.e. when the designated prison's reception will be closed before their arrival time). Basic charges for holding a prisoner per night includes an element for providing meals.

Prisons: Therapeutic Residential Units

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been spent on prison-based therapeutic residential units in each of the last five years; and how many beds are in each prison-based unit.

Maria Eagle: The number of therapeutic community places in prisons is as follows:
	
		
			  Therapeutic Community Places 
			  Prison  Number 
			 Grendon 235 
			 Dovegate 200 
			 Blunderston 40 
			 Gartree 23 
			 Send(1) 40 
			 (1) Women. 
		
	
	It is not possible to separate out the costs of the therapy units at these prisons without incurring considerable and disproportionate cost.

Probation Service

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for future levels of funding of the Probation Service.

Maria Eagle: Probation funding for the next three years, 2008-09 to 2010-11, is not yet confirmed by the Ministry of Justice. Provisional budget planning figures have recently been issued for probation boards' main grant only for 2008-09 which show an increase of over 2 per cent. for probation boards.

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what was spent on central IT for the Probation Service in England and Wales for each financial year since 1997-98.

Maria Eagle: Expenditure on IT services managed centrally by the National Probation Directorate (NPD) and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Resource  Capital 
			 2006-07 37 0.8 
			 2005-06 33 0.7 
			 2004-05 46 0.5 
			 2003-04 50 3.8 
			 2002-03 30 9.5 
		
	
	The costs include the two centrally managed contracts to provide an IT infrastructure for the Probation Service. STEPS1 ran from 1 January 2002 until 31 December 2005; this was replaced by the OMNI contract which commenced on 1 January 2006 and associated replacement hardware and software. In addition other central IT costs are included(1).
	The resource costs are mainly recharged to Probation boards.
	For the period up to 31 December 2001 the National Probation Service Information System Strategy (NPSISS) framework enabling agreement (let in 1994) provided the core infrastructure and case management application; by the end of March 2001 49 of the then 54 probation areas were connected to the NPSISS network with the remaining areas existing via local arrangements. The full cost of the NPSISS programme over seven years to the end of 2001 was £118.038 million(2).
	(1) Support and development of NFS legacy case management applications, GSI accreditation and half of the OASys and ViSOR costs (these jointly apply to the Prison Service) are included. NOMIS development costs are not included as NOMIS is not primarily a probation system.
	(2) NAO report on NPSISS April 2001.

Probation Service: Expenditure

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the expenditure of the Probation Service in England and Wales was in  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2004-05,  (c) 2005-06 and  (d) 2006-07 on (i) drug treatment and testing orders, (ii) work on multi-agency public protection arrangements, (iii) basic skills and (iv) victims.

Maria Eagle: Expenditure is not reported according to the categories requested. Probation boards meet the cost of managing and enforcing Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTO) and Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRR) through their grant as they see fit to meet their statutory duties. The following table shows the total budget allocation to probation areas in England and Wales over the period in question:
	
		
			  Allocation to probation areas to fund DTTO/DRRs supervision and enforcement costs in England and full DTTO/DRR costs in Wales 
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 24 
			 2004-05 34 
			 2005-06 39 
			 2006-07 39 
		
	
	These figures include DTTO/DRR funding in Wales for the commissioning of drug treatment and testing directly from the treatment providers. In England, the treatment and testing components of the Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO) and Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) are currently funded by a central contribution to the Department of Health Pooled Treatment Budget (PTB). The total contribution in 2003-04 was £29.7 million, rising to £42 million in each of the subsequent years, including 2006-07 as described in the following table below:
	
		
			  Amount paid to pooled treatment budget to  fund DTTO/DRR treatment and testing in England 
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 29.7 
			 2004-05 42 
			 2005-06 42 
			 2006-07 42 
		
	
	The costs relating to basic skills and victims were not separately identified by probation boards before 2005-06 except in trial costing exercises in 2002-03 and 2003-04 when the data were not complete.
	In both 2005-06 and 2006-07 probation boards spent £12.2 million on victims. In 2005-06, the only year in which data were available for basic skills, expenditure was £9.4 million. Expenditure on MAPPA is not identified separately.

Probation Service: Expenditure

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on accredited programmes for the Probation Service in England and Wales in each financial year since 2003-04.

Maria Eagle: Probation boards meet the cost of delivering accredited programmes through their grant as they see fit to meet their statutory duties. Probation boards' spend on accredited programmes is as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2005-06 77 
			 2006-07 85 
			 2007-08 86.5 
		
	
	There is no information relating to expenditure for years leading up to 2005.

Probation Service: Expenditure

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on central infrastructure, including IT, estates and approved premises, for the Probation Service in England and Wales in each year since 1997-98.

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what was spent on local infrastructure, including IT and estates, for the Probation Service in England and Wales for each financial year since 1997-98.

Maria Eagle: The 42 local probation boards are supported by a range of services provided at the centre of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and to varying extent recharged to the probation boards. The main items of infrastructure are Estate Management and Facilities Management for probation properties (including Approved Premises) and IT services. The gross cost of these services is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Resource  Capital 
			 2006-07 148 11 
			 2005-06 174 3 
			 2004-05 130 27 
			 2003-04 133 19 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are not provided before 2003-04 as not all these services were managed centrally; expenditure was mainly met directly by local probation boards and figures are not held centrally. 2. There may be further related expenditure met locally by probation boards which is not separately identifiable. Other costs met centrally are not considered to be "infrastructure". 3. From 2005-06 due to a classification of expenditure change, certain property expenditure previously treated as Capital is now treated as Resource. 4. IT expenditure may vary year-on-year according to the amount of one-off costs such as hardware upgrade.

Procurement

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many plastic bags his Department has procured, and at what cost, since it was created.

Michael Wills: Information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only by contacting each division of my Department at a disproportionate cost.
	The Ministry of Justice encourage recycling initiatives of which there are many and an increasing number across the estate, to minimise the impact of plastic bags in waste. Our procurement policy is also to ensure that purchasing is environmentally focussed and that our suppliers have their own sustainable strategies. Key elements of our own policy are to keep consumption to a minimum, to use only recycled and recyclable products and materials wherever possible, and to encourage local management and facilities managers to operate effective recycling schemes.

Prosecutions: Easington

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) convictions for and  (b) prosecutions of drug-related offences took place in Easington constituency in each year since 2000.

Maria Eagle: The number of defendants found guilty at all courts and proceeded against for drug-related offences at Easington magistrates court and North Durham magistrates court for the years 2000 to 2006 can be found in the following table. In 2002, Easington magistrates court was amalgamated with Chester-le-street, Derwentside and Durham magistrates courts to make up North Durham magistrates court.
	It is not possible to identify those offenders in the Easington constituency, as the data is not collected at this level of detail.
	
		
			  The number of defendants proceeded against and found guilty of drug offences in Easington magistrates court and North Durham magistrates court for the years 2000 to 2006( 1,2,3,4) 
			   Easington magistrates court  North Durham magistrates court 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 2000 122 80 (5)— (5)— 
			 2001 151 147 (5)— (5)— 
			 2002 0 6 335 279 
			 2003 (5)— (5)— 314 288 
			 2004 (5)— (5)— 206 195 
			 2005 (5)— (5)— 242 221 
			 2006 (5)— (5)— 187 184 
			 (1) These data are provided on the principal offence basis.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces and courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (3) It is not possible to identify those prosecutions or convictions for other offences, e.g. murder, or manslaughter, which were due to drug-related offences as the circumstances surrounding offences are not held centrally.  (4) The found guilty column may exceed those proceeded against, as it may be the case that the proceedings in the magistrates court took place in the preceding year and they were found guilty at the Crown court in the following year, or the defendants was found guilty for a different offence to the original offence proceeded against. It is also possible that some of those proceeded against were transferred to North Durham upon amalgamation of the four magistrates courts per caveat. (5) In 2002 Easington magistrates court was amalgamated with the following three other magistrates courts to make up North Durham magistrates court: Chester le Street, Derwentside, and Durham.   Source:  Court proceedings database held by RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice.

Regulation

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment  (a) officials in his Department and  (b) the Hayden Phillips review have made of trends in the average level of spending in real terms at a local level by parliamentary candidates during the general election periods regulated by the Representation of the People Act.

Jack Straw: No such assessment has been made by officials in my Department.
	Sir Hayden Phillips' Review of the Funding of Political Parties considered spending levels by parties and candidates. His publications can be found at:
	http://www.partyfundingreview.gov.uk/

Schools

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of school buildings approved by his Department were built to the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method  (a) very good and  (b) excellent standard in each of the last five years; and what the construction cost of those buildings was.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice has built or approved no schools. However, the Department has completed 38 projects within the last five years or are in the final stages of completion. 26 have been assessed under the BREEAM assessment model.
	 (a) 15 have been assessed as "Excellent" (58 per cent.)
	2004—3 projects (12 per cent.)
	2007—12 projects (46 per cent.)
	 (b) 11 have been assessed as "Very Good" (42 per cent.)
	2003—1 project (4 per cent.)
	2004—1 project (4 per cent.)
	2005—1 project (4 per cent.)
	2006—2 projects (7 per cent.)
	2007—6 projects (23 per cent.)
	 (c) 12 projects have still to be assessed.
	The capital costs of the work are not known for projects where it was the Landlord who met the Capital cost of the works or the project was procured by the Lead local authority prior to the Courts Act 2005 or the project was a PFI scheme. The capital cost of the 14 projects where costs are known amounts to £190.2 million.

Security Breaches

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many confirmed data security breaches there have been in his Department in the last 36 months; and what action was taken after each occurrence.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS.
	A small number of incidents involving breach of our data security controls have been reported and investigated. Three of these have been reported to the Information Commissioner as potential breaches.
	Except in exceptional cases, when it is in the public interest, it has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on particular breaches of security.

Sentencing

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many young offenders have been given a custodial sentence in West Chelmsford constituency in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: Numbers given immediate custody by criminal justice area are published in the Ministry of Justice statistical bulletin, 'Sentencing Statistics 2006'. The total number sentenced and the percentage given immediate custody for Essex can be found in Table 5.1.
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/sentencing-stats2006.pdf
	Please note that these figures are for all ages and are not limited to young offenders.
	The information is also in the table as follows.
	
		
			  Number of young offenders( 1)  sentenced to immediate custody at Chelmsford courts( 2) , 2002-06 
			  Defendants 
			  Court  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Aged 10-17  
			 Chelmsford magistrates court 26 23 41 28 21 
			 Chelmsford Crown court 12 7 12 14 9 
			  Aged 18-20  
			 Chelmsford magistrates court 61 52 70 53 57 
			 Chelmsford Crown court 75 81 76 97 98 
			 Total for Chelmsford 174 163 199 192 185 
			 (1) Young offenders are aged 18-20. (2) Magistrates courts in Chelmsford and the Crown court if committed by magistrates in Chelmsford.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source:  RDS-NOMS, Ministry of Justice

Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the timetable is for consultation on and implementation of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 in relation to the role of enforcement agents to secure payment of council tax.

Bridget Prentice: The enforcement law reforms contained within Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 require underpinning rules and regulations. A scoping exercise has now commenced to determine the development of these. It is anticipated that this will be completed by May 2008 and the results will inform the timetable for consultation and implementation.

Voting Rights

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what pilots have taken place in relation to the use of personal identifiers for absent voting.

Michael Wills: Two pilots have taken place in relation to the use of personal identifiers for absent voting in respect of postal voting. These were in the London borough of Newham and Stevenage borough council at the May 2006 local elections.
	Personal identifiers in the form of codes allocated to electors have been used in all electronic voting pilots since 2002.
	In 2007, electronic voting pilots also required identifiers to be provided by electors to administrators to further enhance security.

Voting Rights

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to consult on weekend voting in elections.

Michael Wills: In July 2007 we published "The Governance of Britain'' Green Paper which sets out our commitment to consult on the merits of moving the voting day for general and/or local elections from Thursday to the weekend.
	Work is currently being undertaken to finalise the consultation process for weekend voting.

Voting Rights

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to extend the use of  (a) e-counting and  (b) remote electronic voting to future (i) local, (ii) European Parliament and (iii) general elections.

Michael Wills: In the Governance of Britain Green Paper the Government sets out a long-term aim to investigate the potential benefits of remote electronic voting and to take advantage of emerging communication technologies to provide increased flexibility and choice in the way people vote.
	In the immediate term we are reviewing the lessons learnt from previous e-voting and e-counting pilots. This will help to advise our future programme of work for electoral modernisation.
	There are no plans in the short term to extend the use of e-voting and e-counting to (i) local, (ii) European Parliament and (iii) general elections.

Young Offenders

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many disposals were reported by youth offending teams in 2006-07, broken down by  (a) pre-court,  (b) first tier,  (c) community and  (d) custodial disposals.

David Hanson: The YJB collates data from YOTs broken down by disposals. The data for 2006 will be published in the new year in the YJB's 2006-07 Annual Statistics document.

Young Offenders

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many children aged  (a) 10,  (b) 11,  (c) 12 and  (d) 13 were brought before the juvenile courts in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006 and (A) were convicted, (B) were not convicted, (C) received an absolute discharge and (D) received a conditional discharge.

Maria Eagle: The information requested on the number of children brought before the juvenile courts, and the outcomes of these hearings are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of defendants aged 10-13 proceeded against, found guilty and not guilty at youth courts and the number sentenced to an absolute and conditional discharge, by individual age, England and Wales 2004-06( 1, 2) 
			  Age  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Not guilty  Absolute discharge  Conditional discharge 
			  2004  
			 10 259 168 91 18 5 
			 11 934 638 296 36 42 
			 12 2,776 1,925 851 88 132 
			 13 6,876 4,857 2,019 268 384 
			 Total 10,845 7,588 3,257 410 563 
			   
			  2005  
			 10 223 144 79 13 9 
			 11 957 682 275 45 39 
			 12 2,673 1,954 719 102 124 
			 13 6,828 5,074 1,754 213 375 
			 Total 10,681 7,854 2,827 373 547 
			   
			  2006  
			 10 181 117 64 9 4 
			 11 780 556 224 36 29 
			 12 2,557 1,911 646 101 130 
			 13 6,286 4,793 1,493 178 302 
			 Total 9,804 7,377 2,427 324 465 
			 (1) These data are provided on the principal offence basis  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Young Offenders: Crime

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) males and  (b) females under 18 years old were convicted for (i) vehicle crime, (ii) domestic burglary and (iii) robbery in each constituency in London in each of the last eight years.

David Hanson: The information requested covering the offences of (i) burglary and aggravated burglary in a dwelling (ii) robbery and (iii) vehicle crime comprising (a) theft of a motor vehicle and (b) theft from a motor vehicle in Greater London is provided in the following table.
	Information broken down to constituency level is not held by the Ministry of Justice.
	
		
			  Number of persons aged under 18 found guilty at all courts for selected offences in Greater London( 1) , 1999 to 2006( 2, 3, 4) 
			  Offence class  Sex  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Burglary in a dwelling Male 353 286 257 269 282 297 333 335 
			  Female 13 20 22 17 28 25 14 10 
			  Total 366 306 279 286 310 322 347 345 
			   
			 Robbery Male 549 621 848 746 646 870 953 1,315 
			  Female 43 86 140 119 138 140 153 218 
			  Total 592 707 988 865 784 1,010 1,106 1,533 
			   
			 Vehicle crime Male 141 107 122 96 77 97 87 136 
			  Female 2 1 — 2 — 1 3 2 
			  Total 143 108 122 98 77 98 90 138 
			 (1) Includes Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. (2) These data are provided on the principal offence basis. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces and courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Includes offences of theft of a vehicle and theft from a vehicle.  Source: Court Proceedings Database—Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

Young Offenders: Sentencing

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average number of days from arrest to sentence in cases involving persistent young offenders was at the most recent date for which figures are available for each police force area.

Maria Eagle: In 1996, the average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders was 142 days. The Government pledged to halve the time to 71 days by March 2002 (changed to May 2002 by the 2001 manifesto). The pledge is a target that applies jointly to all Criminal Justice Agencies.
	The average number of days from arrest to sentence (three month rolling average) for persistent young offenders in England and Wales for July to September 2007 was 62 days. The monthly performance for September 2007 was 60 days. Therefore the performance is better than the Government's pledge.
	The information contained in the following table details the most recent arrest to sentence details for each Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB). LCJBs are coterminous with police force areas with the exception of Metropolitan which cover both the Metropolitan and City of London forces.
	
		
			  Average number of days from arrest to sentence (three-month rolling averages) for persistent young offenders in England and Wales: by Criminal Justice Area for February 2007 to September 2007 
			  Area  February to April 2007  March to May 2007  April to June 2007  May to July 2007  June to August 2007  July to September 2007 
			 Avon and Somerset 72 72 72 74 71 66 
			 Bedfordshire 81 75 80 82 73 74 
			 Cambridgeshire 71 64 60 58 60 53 
			 Cheshire 62 58 56 54 54 47 
			 Cleveland 69 62 63 64 67 57 
			 Cumbria 83 64 60 56 55 64 
			 Derbyshire 55 55 55 59 62 58 
			 Devon and Cornwall 72 78 79 72 66 59 
			 Dorset 77 79 90 80 61 59 
			 Durham 67 63 58 54 49 47 
			 Dyfed-Powys 48 46 48 44 46 42 
			 Essex 58 63 62 60 54 56 
			 Gloucestershire 68 63 55 55 70 82 
			 Greater Manchester 77 74 73 70 69 65 
			 Gwent 94 83 77 67 72 72 
			 Hampshire 66 66 62 61 55 53 
			 Hertfordshire 69 70 66 68 71 74 
			 Humberside 75 73 73 69 69 58 
			 Kent 90 85 75 63 63 69 
			 Lancashire 64 59 57 51 52 51 
			 Leicestershire 90 82 71 65 67 66 
			 Lincolnshire 58 50 65 70 64 59 
			 Merseyside 65 64 61 58 56 57 
			 Metropolitan 72 72 70 72 71 66 
			 Norfolk 79 59 50 44 48 47 
			 North Wales 85 74 56 51 53 49 
			 North Yorkshire 56 58 54 54 55 63 
			 Northamptonshire 87 78 61 47 49 59 
			 Northumbria 74 77 74 72 68 76 
			 Nottinghamshire 68 68 63 64 63 66 
			 South Wales 76 75 73 83 85 82 
			 South Yorkshire 68 69 65 62 60 64 
			 Staffordshire 69 69 72 66 60 52 
			 Suffolk 53 53 51 52 57 60 
			 Surrey 75 80 66 63 51 43 
			 Sussex 70 74 63 67 66 63 
			 Thames Valley 80 75 73 72 67 60 
			 Warwickshire 57 67 70 68 62 56 
			 West Mercia 66 63 56 50 65 69 
			 West Midlands 72 73 63 55 54 56 
			 West Yorkshire 59 64 68 66 59 57 
			 Wiltshire 77 63 77 84 81 72 
			
			 British Transport Police 110 113 97 92 79 71 
			
			 England and Wales 72 70 67 65 63 62

Youth Justice Body

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many performance indicators the Youth Justice Body has instructed local authorities to monitor as part of their local area agreements.

David Hanson: There are six youth justice indicators in the national indicator set for Local Government. The six indicators are:
	The rate of proven re-offending by young offenders;
	Percentage of young people within the Youth Justice System receiving a conviction in court who are sentenced to custody;
	Ethnic composition of offenders on Youth Justice System disposals;
	Young offenders' engagement in suitable education, employment or training;
	Young offenders' access to suitable accommodation;
	The number of first time entrants to the Youth Justice System aged 10 to 17.
	National indicators will be reported on by local authorities in England regardless of whether they are in a specific local area agreement (LAA). LAA's are agreed between local authorities and central Government.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Aviation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many air miles were travelled by Ministers in his Department in each year since 2000; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result;
	(2)  how many miles he and other Ministers in his Department travelled on short haul flights in the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result of these flights.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Since 1999 the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the current financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. From next year, the list will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	All central Government ministerial and official air travel has been offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases certified emissions reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
	In addition, offsetting the flights of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development, and the Prime Minister has been backdated to 1 April 2005.
	A list of Government Carbon Offsetting Fund members, their emission figures and what activities they have offset through the fund is available online at:
	<http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/carbonoffset/government.htm>

Aviation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by his Department on international flights in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The Department's accounting system does not record travel information in the format and at the level of detail requested. The information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Regarding Ministers' visits overseas, since 1999 the Government have published a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the current financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. From next year, the list will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the ministerial code.

Carbon Emissions

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether his Department has adopted the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme.

Margaret Hodge: The Department has adopted the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme to assist in establishing a baseline measurement of the carbon footprint of the departmental estate and that of our major non-departmental public bodies.

Christmas

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on  (a) Christmas cards and  (b) postage of Christmas cards in 2007.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The total numbers of DCMS Christmas cards that each Minister intends to send this year are as follows:
	
		
			   Cards 
			 James Purnell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 500 
			 Margaret Hodge, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism 450 
			 Gerry Sutcliffe, Minister for Sport 150 
		
	
	This year the Department is producing a total of 3,400 Christmas cards (of which 1,100 are allocated to Ministers), costing a total of £2,284.
	We cannot supply an accurate figure for postage costs as many of the cards will be distributed via internal contacts. However, standard procedure for DCMS is that they will be sent via second class post.

Club and Coaching Development Scheme

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the administrative costs to each of the national governing bodies of implementing the Club and Coaching Development Scheme sponsored by his Department.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Our non-departmental public body, Sport England has not made any estimate of the cost to governing bodies of implementing the Club and Coach programme. Costs will vary depending on the size and scope of each national governing body's programme and the extent of their existing staffing infrastructures. Sport England has invested £8.35 million of additional funding into a number of national governing bodies to provide them with extra capacity to help manage this new programme.

Computer Software

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many copies of Adobe Photoshop software were purchased by his Department in the last period for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department has six copies of Adobe Photoshop software.

Cultural Heritage: Textiles

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is on the maintenance and preservation of collections of historic textiles in public ownership; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 17 December 2007
	 The Victoria and Albert Museum houses the national collection of textiles and there are significant collections at other museums sponsored by the Department. The Government delegate responsibility for specific textile conservation policies to these and other public bodies with duties for the care and protection of cultural heritage.
	The Institute of Conservation continues to support efforts to find a new home for the Textile Conservation Centre.

Departmental Databases

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times databases containing personal information on members of the general public were transferred by his Department to other bodies or organisations  (a) physically and  (b) electronically in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is as follows.
	 (a) None
	 (b) None

Departmental Marketing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many branded plastic bags his Department has purchased in the last 24 months for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has not purchased any branded plastic bags in the last 24 months.

Departmental Recycling

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what 
	(1)   (a) volume and  (b) percentage of its waste his Department recycled in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much and what proportion of its waste his Department recycled in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not hold records on recycling for the last five years.
	DCMS introduced a new waste management system in January 2007 at its Cockspur street offices. The average monthly recycling rate is 59 per cent.

Departmental Sustainable Development

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether his Department is working towards an accredited certified environmental management system such as ISO 14001 or EMAS  (a) for its whole estate and  (b) in some of its buildings.

Margaret Hodge: The Department's environmental management system was accredited to ISO 14001 in June 2007. The EMS covers the Department's offices at Cockspur Street and Tottenham Court Road.
	The Department's executive agency the Royal Parks, has an environmental management system accredited to ISO 14001 for all its estate.

Digital Broadcasting: Television

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when the Switchover Programme Group decided to change the digital switchover programme alert from Red to Amber; and if he will place in the Library the minutes of the meeting when the decision was taken;
	(2)  when he was informed that on 9 August 2007 Digital UK issued a red status alert for the overall digital switchover programme; whether the information relating to the alert was made public; and if he will notify Parliament if any such further alert is issued;
	(3)  what the criteria are for a red status alert to be issued for the digital switchover scheme; what the current alert status is; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: Red, amber, green status reporting is a valuable internal management tool for focusing efforts on key operational or strategic issues to ensure effective delivery of switchover. In this case red status reflected a concern about tight timescales for the delivery of the Digital Switchover Help Scheme in Whitehaven.
	Digital UK informed me that the switchover programme was likely to move to red status at a meeting on 8 August 2007 and at the same time set out the steps that the programme was taking to resolve the issue. Given that this was essentially an operational issue and that plans to address it were being put in place, it was not at that stage an issue for widespread concern which necessitated informing Parliament.
	At the next meeting of the Switchover Programme Group sufficient action had been taken and the group agreed to revert to amber status. The relevant extract from the minutes of this meeting is given as follows:
	The Digital UK Programme Office issues a status alert if a move to 'red' needs to be brought to the attention of the Switchover Programme Group before their next scheduled monthly meeting. Quarterly progress reports on the switchover programme, including its red/amber/green status, are published on:
	www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk
	All such changes in status and the implications of them, including whether to inform Parliament, will be considered on an individual basis depending upon the severity of the issue.
	The current status of the switchover programme is amber. The criteria used by the Digital Switchover Programme for awarding red, amber and green status are:
	Green: Good progress towards all milestones and objectives: no cause for concern.
	Amber: Some cause for concern: one or two milestones missed and indications are that this will recur. Issues may exist, but corrective action identified and being taken.
	Red: Major cause for concern: several milestones missed or about to be missed endangering programme objectives. Further milestones will be missed unless proactive steps taken and sustained action supported by the programme or programme-critical issues exist with no clear course of corrective action identified.
	 Switchover Programme Group: Extract from minutes of meeting held on 19 September 2007
	Alex Pumfrey returned to the reasons why the Copeland Help Scheme was originally placed on red status on 13 August: (i) the need for reassurance that there was sufficient delivery and installer capacity to meet demand, which Peter White had confirmed there was; (ii) the need for a forward plan of activity, which has been shared; and (iii) assurance from DSHS that people have been given sufficient time to respond. Peter White noted that among the groups eligible for free help, 43 per cent. had responded, which indicated that people had had sufficient time to respond if they wished, and that low response was more likely to be attributable to the deterrent effect of the £40 charge or take-up of satellite. On this basis the group agreed to move the Copeland Help Scheme from red to amber status.

Gambling

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library copies of the letters he has received since 1 September 2007 on  (a) gaming machine stake and prize levels and  (b) the number of gaming machines in use.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Since 1 September the Department has received more than 140 letters from hon. Members, writing on behalf of constituents, concerning gaming machine stakes and prizes and gaming machine numbers.
	I am arranging for a copy of an anonymised example of a typical constituent's letter, and the Department's reply, to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Gambling

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he plans to review the  (a) size and  (b) remit of the Gambling Commission.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There are no immediate plans to review the size or focus of the Gambling Commission. The Gambling Commission is the new regulator for the gambling industry and became fully operational from 1 September 2007. The Commission is still in its first operational cycle and has developed strategic objectives for the first three years to deliver its statutory objectives as set out in the Gambling Act 2005. The Commission's initial Corporate Plan will be reviewed after 18 months in light of its first year's experience as the regulator. In particular the review will consider the developing methods for assessing the level of risk within the gambling industry and the resource effectiveness of the Gambling Commission's approach (including an annual review of licence fees).

Gambling

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from  (a) the Gambling Commission,  (b) the Responsibility in Gambling Trust,  (c) Gamcare and  (d) trade associations on the likely effects on problem gambling of the introduction of the Gambling Act 2005 on 1 September 2007.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The implementation of the Gambling Act 2005 which came into force on 1 September 2007 has been the subject of extensive consultation with key stakeholders from industry and those with an interest in problem gambling.
	Ministers and officials also continue to hold meetings with stakeholders including those listed in the question and which have included representations on a range of issues, including problem gambling.
	The Gambling Commission has also recently launched a first consultation paper on the Review of Research, Education and Treatment for problem gambling and has invited views from a broad range of stakeholders.

Gambling

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the economic effect of the Gambling Act 2005 on seaside arcades.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department is engaging in active and constructive dialogue with the British Amusement Catering Trade Association, the main trade body which represents the gaming machines and seaside arcades sector, and other trade bodies with an interest in the sector, such as the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions, to gain a full understanding of the current trading conditions in the gaming machine and seaside arcades sector.
	I have made it clear to these organisations that I will be happy to consider any evidence they can provide in relation to the difficult trading conditions that some arcade operators say they are currently experiencing, and any proposals for remedial action.
	However, the Government's principal priority remains to protect the public. We will need to be satisfied that any proposals put forward for remedial action by the industry do not have an adverse impact in terms of the licensing objectives of the Gambling Act 2005.

Gambling

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average premises licence fees levied on  (a) family entertainment centres and  (b) adult gaming centres by local authorities was in 2006-07.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The average premises licences fees for  (a) family entertainment centres and  (b) adult gaming centres by local authorities are set out in the table. These data is calculated from fee data returns collected by my Department from 95 per cent. of licensing authorities. Full details of all premises licence fees are available on the DCMS website
	www.culture.gov.uk.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Premises type  Fast track application fee (for existing premises)  Average new application fee  Average annual fee 
			 Family entertainment centres 242 790 564 
			 Adult gaming centres 243 796 717

Licensed Premises

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many different statutory notices licensed premises must display.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Under the Licensing Act 2003, a premises licence holder is required to display the most recent summary of the premises licence (or a certified copy of it) and a notice specifying the position held by the person who has custody of the premises licence itself (if that person is not the licence-holder). There are similar requirements for the holder of a club premises certificate. A person who gives a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) must display the TEN itself, or in lieu thereof, a notice identifying the person with custody of the TEN.
	The holder of a premises licence or club premises certificate is therefore required to display a minimum of one, and a maximum of two notices under the 2003 Act. A person who gives a TEN is required to display at least one notice.
	A premises licence holder may also need to display notices in order to comply with legislation other than licensing legislation. These include notices as regards prices of food and drink under the Weights and Measures Act 1985, notices concerning the prohibition of smoking under the Health Act 2006, notices concerning business names under the Business Names Act 1985 and notices under Health and Safety legislation.

Minimum Wage

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many London-based staff are employed by his Department on the national minimum wage.

Gerry Sutcliffe: None.

Museums and Galleries

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) publicly funded and  (b) charitably funded (i) art galleries, (ii) museums and (iii) archives (A) closed and (B) opened in each local authority area in England in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) by my hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr. Lammy) on 26 April 2007,  Official Report, column 1256W, in respect of museums and galleries sponsored by the Department. The only addition is the opening of the International Slavery Museum (August 2007), part of National Museums Liverpool.
	The following Arts Council England funded galleries have opened in the past five years:
	
		
			   Gallery  Local authority 
			 2003 Permanent Gallery Brighton and Hove City Council 
			 2004 Apartment Manchester City Council 
			 2004 The Brindley Halton District Council 
			 2004 OVADA Oxford City Council 
			 2004 Study Gallery Poole Borough Council 
			 2005 Colony Gallery Birmingham City Council 
			 2005 De La Warr Pavilion Rother District Council 
			 2005 Mushroom Works Newcastle City Council 
			 2006 Town Hall Galleries Ipswich Borough Council 
			 2006 Workplace Newcastle City Council 
			 2007 Designed and Made Newcastle City Council 
			 2007 Exchange Gallery Penwith Borough Council 
			 2007 Picture This Bristol City Council 
			 2007 Plymouth University Levinsky Building Plymouth City Council 
		
	
	The following Arts Council England funded galleries have closed in the past five years:
	
		
			   Gallery  Local authority 
			 2003 Basement Liverpool City Council 
			 2005 Craft Council Gallery Islington Council 
			 2006 Jump Ship Gallery Liverpool City Council 
			 2007 Gardner Arts Centre Brighton and Hove City Council 
			 2007 Norwich Gallery Norwich City Council 
		
	
	Information on local authority, or charitably funded museums, galleries and archives is not held centrally.

Museums and Galleries

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what resources have been made available to museums in the West Midlands since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 17 December 2007
	The following table shows spend on museums and galleries in the west midlands through the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and its predecessor body:
	
		
			   £ 
			 1997-98 435,181 
			 1998-99 461,413 
			 1999-2000 461,062 
			 2000-01 540,328 
			 2001-02 664,119 
			 2002-03 926,112 
			 2003-04 1,219,000 
			 2004-05 4,264,535 
			 2005-06 5,840,000 
			 2006-07 6,141,168 
			 2007-08 6,133,456 
			 Total 27,086,374 
		
	
	The following table shows spend on regularly funded galleries in the west midlands by Arts Council England since 2002/03.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2002-03 1,386,986 
			 2003-04 1,427,589 
			 2004-05 1,833,982 
			 2005-06 1,819,820 
			 2006-07 2,384,861 
			 2007-08 2,445,594 
			 Total 11,298,832 
		
	
	The following table shows the value of grants given by the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund to institutions in the west midlands.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004-05 529,100 
			 2005-06 845,000 
			 2006-07 510,000 
			 2007-08 209,000 
		
	
	Museums are a discretionary local authority service and their core funding is a matter for the 14 single tier and county councils and 24 district councils in the west midlands. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's (CIPFA) Statistical Information Service surveys local authority museums and the findings are available in its 'Leisure and Recreation Statistics Estimates' publication that is in the House Library.

Portable Antiquities Scheme

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the reporting of treasure in England and Wales of the proposal by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council to maintain the funding for the Portable Antiquities Scheme next year at its current level; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) is funded by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and so any decisions on its future funding will be taken by the MLA.
	The PAS is of national importance and the MLA is committed to seeing it thrive and evolve. The MLA will continue to work with the British Museum and other stakeholders to build on the success the scheme has had in its goal of advancing archaeological knowledge—for finders, museums and, most importantly, the wider public.
	The MLA believes the scheme fits with the wider Renaissance in the Regions agenda and intends to maintain current levels of support for 2008-09, while considering options for future funding in the context of wider priorities for museum collections and public participation.

Sports: Finance

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the level of public funding for  (a) sport and  (b) women's sport has been in each of the last five years; and which sport received the most money per participant.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Exchequer and Lottery spending on sport in England in each of the last five years was:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Lottery 350 297 249 419 344 
			 Exchequer 137 140 235 273 377 
			 Total 487 437 484 692 721 
		
	
	The Exchequer figures show DCMS spending through UK Sport and Sport England, and DCSF spending on school sport through the Youth Sport Trust. The Lottery figures show spending through UK Sport, Sport England, the Big Lottery Fund and its predecessors (Community Fund and New Opportunities Fund).
	It is not possible to provide total figures for investment into women's sport, or which sport received the most money per participant, as information is not held in this format.
	We do have figures on programmes specifically targeted at women.
	The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation, which exists to promote physical activity as an integral part of life for women and girls, has received the following funding:
	
		
			  £ 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Core costs (Exchequer) 150,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 329,333 
			 Project support (Exchequer) — — — — (1)33,000 
			 Project support (Lottery) — 83,729 — 65,207 56,454 
			 Total 150,000 283,729 200,000 265,207 418,787 
			 (1) £20,000 to support work across the Sports Equity Alliance, not solely women's sport. 
		
	
	UK Sport has funded the following women's sport programmes:
	£30,000 (£10,000 in 2006-07 and £20,000 in 2007-08) has been invested in the Women and Leadership Development Programme, established in partnership with the BOA and CCPR to address the lack of women in senior decision making sports positions.
	£67,500 has been invested between 2004 and 2008 in international women's sport development projects.
	Synchronised swimming, (£1,617,000 for April 2006 to March 2009) and rhythmic gymnastics (integrated into the overall British Gymnastics Beijing award of £9 million) which are both female only sports.
	Since 2003, female athletes have received 39 to 41 per cent. of UK Sport World Class Performance Programme and World Class Pathway Programme awards.

Stonehenge: Visitors' Centre

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost has been to  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies of (i) public enquiries, (ii) public consultations, (iii) public exhibitions, (iv) public information initiatives, (v) consultancy fees and (vi) all others costs incurred in connection with the proposed English Heritage Visitors' Centre at Stonehenge and the associated road improvement on the A303(T) since 1986.

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost has been to  (a) his Department and  (b) English Heritage of preparatory work in connection with the Stonehenge Visitors' Centre.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 17 December 2007
	English Heritage records for expenditure on the Stonehenge visitor centre proposals commence at 1990-91. A total of some £16 million has been spent on developing various schemes for a new visitor centre. This includes funds to purchase land for the proposed site, which can be used for other purposes, together with consultancy and project team costs associated with the architectural, structural and environmental design of the centre including costs associated with public enquiries.
	It is not possible to disaggregate costs in the manner requested but broadly the split of costs is as follows:
	
		
			£ million 
			 1990-91 to 1997-98 Original feasibility study and proposals 4.2 
			 1997-98 to 2002-03 Public private partnership scheme development 1.9 
			 2000-01 Purchase of the Countess East site and Countess road properties 3.4 
			 2000-01 to 2006-07 Countess East scheme 6.5 
		
	
	Additional staff costs have fallen to my Department but these are included in overall running costs and are not separately recorded.
	The costs for the A303 Stonehenge improvement scheme were given in the answer to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Robert Key) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, South (Mr. Harris) on 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1426W.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Carbon Sequestration

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the maturity and practicality of carbon capture and storage technologies;
	(2)  what research the Department has carried out on the cost of carbon capture and storage technology.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has published two reports on carbon capture and storage: 'The Review of Carbon Capture and Storage in the UK' and 'The Carbon Abatement Technology (CAT) Strategy for Fossil Fuel Use', provide the results in these areas. Both reports can be found in the House of Commons Library and also on the BERR website at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/coal/cfft/co2capture/review.pdf
	and
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/coal/cfft/cct/pub/catreportlinked.pdf.
	The supporting analysis underpinning the carbon abatement technology strategy which can be found at
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energv/coal/cfft/cct/pub/pdfs/r301.pdf
	provides the work to date on predicting the impact of deploying this technology. Further work on this area is planned as part of an update of the CAT strategy.
	Additionally, Poyry Ltd carried out a study in June 2006 on the North sea CCS pipeline infrastructure. The study, commissioned by BERR, on behalf of the UK, Norway and the North sea basin task force, has now been completed and is also available on the BERR web site at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/sustainable/carbon-abatement-tech/ccs/nsbtf/page42482.html
	The Department also commissioned engineers PB Power to assess proposed CCS projects in the UK and to advise the Government on whether to support a CCS demonstration. This work is commercially confidential and is not in the public domain.

Carbon Sequestration

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether carbon capture and storage technology will be eligible for capital allowances.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	HMT consulted on the barriers to carbon capture and storage (CCS) deployment in 2006 and the Government announced in the Energy review that the next logical step would be a full-scale demonstration project. A competition to design and build one of the first-ever commercial CCS demonstration projects was launched by the Prime Minister on the 19 November.
	All taxes and reliefs are kept under review and any changes are announced by the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.

Carbon Sequestration

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether carbon capture and storage technology will be eligible for capital grants.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government have a £35 million programme for the demonstration of carbon abatement technologies, including carbon capture and storage (CCS). It is also possible that part of the funding for the CCS demonstration project will be in the form of capital grants.

Coal: Finance

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much Government funding the UK coal industry received annually since 1997; and what plans there are to continue such funding.

Malcolm Wicks: Grants paid to UK coal producers in each financial year from 1997-98 are shown in the following table. The UK coal industry has received support through the UK Coal Operating Aid Scheme (2000-02) and Coal Investment Aid ('CIA'—awards made in 2003 and 2004 for draw-down during 2003-08), both of which are closed. Details of both can been found on the BERR website. Two CIA awards have not yet been drawn down in full; any further qualifying expenditure must be incurred and defrayed by the end of 2008.
	
		
			  £ million 
			 UK Coal Operating Aid  Coal Investment Aid 
			  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007  to  date 
			 0 0 0 76.5 61.6 26.6 0.4 21.8 19.5 9.6 0.2

Fossil Fuelled Power Stations: Carbon Emissions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate has been made of the level of effect on carbon emissions of construction of fossil fuel plants without operational carbon capture and storage technology.

Malcolm Wicks: The most recent BERR energy and emissions projections were published as a supporting document to the Energy White Paper of May 2007. In the central case projection, including policy measures, total power station emissions are projected to fall from 47MtC 2005 to around 36MtC in 2020.

Fuel Poverty: Lincolnshire

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many households are classified as living in fuel-poverty in  (a) North East Lincolnshire and  (b) North Lincolnshire.

Malcolm Wicks: Regional estimates of fuel poverty are available only for England in 2003 and are taken from the Fuel Poverty Indicator (FPI) dataset (available online at http://www.fuelpovertyindicator.org.uk/). This estimates that there were 4,600 fuel-poor households in North East Lincolnshire and 4,300 in North Lincolnshire.
	It is important to note that the FPI only predicts the level of poverty in individual areas. It cannot take into account local circumstances. As with all small area indicators, it is important to use local knowledge and data to complement the FPI when developing local fuel poverty programmes.

Gambling: Competition

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans his Department has to assess the effects of the Gambling Act 2005 on competition in the gambling market.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	A competition assessment of the Gambling Act 2005 was included in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which was published in April 2005 to accompany the Act. In addition, impact assessments were prepared where appropriate for each piece of secondary legislation required to implement the Act. These are published with the related explanatory memorandum on the Office for Public Sector Information website www.opsi.gov.uk <http://www.opsi.gov.uk>, and separately on the Department's website www.culture.gov.uk <http://www.culture.gov.uk>

Members: Correspondence

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he will reply to the letters of 4 July and 17 September 2007 from the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare on behalf of Mr. Gerald Evans of Weston-Super-Mare regarding Reusa-Can Ltd., which were transferred to his Department on 21 September 2007.

Malcolm Wicks: I replied to the hon. Member on the 2 October 2007.
	My Private Office also sent a copy of the reply to the hon. Member on 12 November 2007.

Minimum Wage

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what information his Department holds on statutory national minimum wages in  (a) each EU member state,  (b) the United States,  (c) China,  (d) India,  (e) Russia and  (f) Japan expressed in (i) local currency and (ii) sterling (purchasing power parity) in each case.

Patrick McFadden: An international comparison of minimum wage rates was published in Annex C of "Government Evidence to the Low Pay Commission on the Economic Effects of the National Minimum Wage" in November 2006. This is available from the BERR website at www.berr.gov.uk/employment/pay/national-minimum-wage/Evidence-Low_Pay-Commission/page21634.html. Copies are also available in the House Libraries. An updated international comparison will be provided in the Government's evidence to the Low Pay Commission for 2007 which will be published in December.
	Statistics on OECD minimum wages in purchasing power parity terms can be found at www.oecd.org/document/63/0,3343,en_2825_495691_38939455_ l_l_l_l,00. html. Statistics on EU minimum wages in purchasing power parity terms can be found at
	epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-SF-07-071/EN/KS-SF-07-071-EN.PDF.

Nuclear Reactors: Flood Control

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what projections he has made of flood risk to each of Britain's nuclear power and waste processing plants over the next 100 years; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Health and Safety Executive requires flood defence plans for civil licensed nuclear sites to be periodically reviewed by site operators. These reviews are carried out against the current climate change impact projections.

Political Levy

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment  (a) his Department and  (b) the Certification Officer has made of the number of trade unions which affiliate more members to the Labour Party than they have members paying the political levy.

Patrick McFadden: Neither the Department nor the Certification Officer has made an assessment about the number of member trade unions affiliated to the Labour Party.

Post Offices

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with  (a) the Post Office and  (b) others on the timetable for the Network Change Programme consultation; what changes have been made following these discussions; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The timetable for the Network Change Programme was set out in July of this year. In line with the Cabinet Office guidelines on consultations during local elections POL have now agreed to suspend the process during the local election campaign. As a consequence of these changes, the start of consultations and announcements of decisions on plans which were previously scheduled for after 1 May 2008 are put back by four weeks on average.
	It remains POL's intention to complete the Network Change Programme by the end of next year.

Radioactive Materials: Transport

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations his Department has received on security provision in the event of  (a) an accident and  (b) a terrorist attack involving nuclear waste in transit in (i) an urban and (ii) a rural environment; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government believe that the risks of transporting nuclear materials are very small and that there is an effective regulatory framework in place to ensure that these risks are minimised and sensibly managed by industry.
	The Government set out their preliminary view on the future of nuclear power in the consultation document, published on 23 May 2007. The consultation ended on 10 October 2007 and the Government are currently carefully considering the responses received before they make the decision early this year.

Regional Development Agencies: Finance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what criteria were used to allocate the funding referred to in the answer of 23 October 2007,  Official Report, column 195W, on regional development agencies: finance to each regional development agency; and what the reasons were for the variation between regional development agencies of their administrative costs as a percentage of their respective grants.

Stephen Timms: The regional development agencies' budgets for 2007-08 were allocated to the RDAs following the Spending Review 2004. Grant in aid was divided between the RDAs using a funding formula which takes into account the needs of the region (including skills, worklessness and productivity).
	Once the overall budgets were set, the RDAs produced corporate plans in which they set out their requirements for pay and non-pay administration costs. Those plans were approved by Ministers.
	Differences in the proportion of the total budget spent on administration by RDAs arise for a number of reasons. These include the different geographic size and population of the region, the different sizes of the RDAs' total budget and the different choices which the Agencies make in terms of whether they deliver particular objectives themselves or whether they operate through sub-regional partners.

Renewable Energy: Research

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much money has been allocated for research into renewable energies in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Morley and Rothwell (Colin Challen) on 24 May 2007,  Official Report, columns 1448-449W.

Sakhalin Island: Pipelines

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his policy is on underwriting the Sakhalin II oil and gas development; when he expects to make a decision on underwriting exploration; and how much he expects to underwrite.

Malcolm Wicks: ECGD will apply its normal underwriting policy and its business principles to consideration of support for this project taking into account its Case Impact Assessment Process. See
	www.ecgd.gov.uk
	A decision on whether to support the project and on the amount of any such support will be made after ECGD has completed its financial, technical, environmental and other due diligence. This will take into consideration comments received on the project from other interested parties, including NGOs.

Social Security Benefits: Christmas

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions on the timetable of pension and benefits payments in the period before Christmas 2007.

Patrick McFadden: None. However, I understand from Post Office Ltd. that it is confident that its horizon system has the capacity to cope with the number of transactions expected to take place on 24 December. State pensions for 1.4 million Post Office card account holders will be payable from 21 December giving those pensioners the choice of three days on which to draw their pensions and spreading the transaction volumes for sub-post offices and the Horizon system. Post Office Ltd. will monitor performance of its systems closely in the days preceding the holiday period and has comprehensive contingency plans in place.

Summertime

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent research his Department has  (a) commissioned,  (b) undertaken and  (c) evaluated on the effects of changing to daylight saving time in the UK.

Patrick McFadden: There are no plans to change the current summer time arrangements or to undertake additional research as the Government are not convinced that a change would be in the best interests of the UK.

Utilities: Complaints

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what steps Ofgem is taking to encourage improvements in consumer complaint-handling by energy suppliers; what discussions he has had with Ofgem on this; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that consumers have access to information on the performance of energy suppliers in handling complaints; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007, Ofgem is required to make regulations that set standards of performance for complaint-handling standards for gas and electricity customers. Ofgem is currently consulting on proposals that meet this requirement. Among other things, Ofgem has proposed that companies provide information about the number of complaints they receive. Its consultation also seeks views on what other information—such as customer satisfaction or speed of resolution—might be provided by companies. My officials, and other interested parties, have been in discussion with Ofgem about this activity.

Utilities: Fees and Charges

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimates he has made of the average UK household  (a) electricity and  (b) gas bill in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government do not produce forecasts of household fuel bills.
	Historical annual average household gas and electricity bills are published in 'Quarterly Energy' available from the House of Commons Library.

Waste Heat Recovery

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what research his Department has carried out into mapping the potential for heat capture in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: In the Energy White Paper we said that we would conduct further work into the policy options available to reduce the carbon impact of heat including the capture and use of surplus heat. This work is being led by the Office of Climate Change and officials from my Department along with other Departments.
	As announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the 19 November, a call for evidence on heat will be published in January 2008.
	The OCC's Heat Project aims to improve the understanding of how heat can be cost-effectively decarbonised, including how heat can be supplied from renewable sources. This work is being taken forward under the four workstreams:
	(i) Carbon Markets;
	(ii) Renewable Heat;
	(iii) Community Heating; and
	(iv) Large Scale Heat.
	BERR and other Government Departments have been working closely with the Office of Climate Change (OCC), providing input to their heat strategy.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister recently announced that the call for evidence would be jointly published in January 2008 by BERR, DEFRA and CLG.

Wind Power

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the cost of decommissioning a 2MW wind turbine, including the cost of removing concrete foundations, access roads and associated infrastructures, and restoring sites to their original condition; and what mechanisms are in place to ensure that such decommissioning is properly carried out.

Malcolm Wicks: No such estimate has been made. Decommissioning conditions are applied to onshore wind farm planning permissions to ensure restoration of the site to the satisfaction of the local authority once the planning permission lifetime has expired. It is common practice for developers to enter into agreements pursuant to section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to ensure funds are available for such decommissioning work.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his latest long-term target for the number of academies is; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We are firmly committed to establishing 400 academies as first announced on 30 November 2006.

Academies: Admissions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils aged  (a) three to 15,  (b) 14 to 15 and  (c) 16 to 19 there are expected to be in academy schools in each year between 2008-09 and 2010-11.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the estimated number of pupils aged  (a) three to 15,  (b) 14 to 15 and  (c) 16 to 19 that are expected to be in academy schools in the following academic years 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11.
	These estimates are based on 200 academies being open by 2010; they are subject to change as we move towards opening 400 academies. This is consistent with the projections published in Department Annual Report 2007 and the submission of 16 May 2007.
	
		
			  Projected numbers of pupils( 1)  in academies 
			  Thousand 
			   2009  2010  2011 
			  At January at previous  31 August
			 Aged 3-15 114 136 184 
			 Aged 14-15 40 49 68 
			 Aged 16-19 20 26 36 
			 (1) Full-time equivalents, counting each part-time pupil as 0.5. The numbers have been rounded to the nearest one thousand.   Note: Projections use 2006 School Census Data and are being updated in early 2008.

Academies: Disadvantaged

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of academies in targeting the most disadvantaged pupils.

Jim Knight: The academies programme targets areas of inadequate educational opportunity and attainment.
	The National Foundation for Educational Research ("Admissions: who goes where? Messages from the statistics", published July 2006) found that academies tended to be situated in areas where the community populations included higher proportions of children eligible for free school meals (FSM); with special educational needs (SEN); of black or ethnic minority origin; and of lower key stage 2 (KS2) ability; and that academies admit higher proportions of pupils eligible for FSM and with SEN than the proportion living in the local postcode districts. Furthermore, they admit a lower proportion of pupils of higher KS2 ability compared to the proportion living within the local postcode districts.
	There is a large body of evidence from independent reports and examination results that the academies programme is succeeding in raising aspirations and attainment in the communities they serve. The National Audit Office concluded that pupils' achievements in 2005 and 2006 indicated a strong trend in raising attainment, and that if this trend continues, the academies programme will meet its objective of raising attainment in deprived areas ("The Academies Programme", National Audit Office, February 2007, page 8). The Government agree with this assessment, which is why the Secretary of State in his statement to the House of 10 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 1319-23, announced a series of measures to accelerate the academies programme, and the Department plans to open 50 new academies in each of the next three years on its way to opening at least 400 academies.

Academies: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what external assessments of the academies programme will be  (a) completed and  (b) published in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: In February 2003, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) was commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to conduct an independent five-year evaluation of the academies programme. The aim of the evaluation is to assess the overall effectiveness of the programme in terms of its contribution to educational standards, and to examine the impact of key features of academies including sponsorship, governance, leadership and buildings. The first four reports have already been published and the fifth and final report will be published in summer 2008.

Assessments: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether any  (a) GCSE and  (b) A-level examinations will be marked overseas in whole or in part in 2008; whether any have been in 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: This information is not collected centrally. The qualifications regulators require awarding bodies to ensure that all examiners and markers, irrespective of background or location, are trained and standardised in line with the requirements of the GCSE, GCE, GNVQ and AEA Code of Practice. The qualifications regulators monitor awarding bodies' compliance with this requirement.
	In 2007 all examiners (individuals with subject expertise who are responsible for marking candidates' responses) were based in the UK. There are no plans to use examiners in other countries in 2008. Some clerical work such as the copy typing of one word hand-written answers, so that they could be read by computer, was carried out overseas in summer 2007.

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Fire Extinguishers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what the Government's policy is on the inclusion of sprinkler systems within schools being rebuilt under Building Schools for the Future; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which schools  (a) have been built,  (b) are being built and  (c) are planned for re-build under Building Schools for the Future in each local authority area; and whether each has included a sprinkler system.

Jim Knight: The Department announced its policy on sprinkler systems for schools in March 2007. The policy is that a risk assessment should be undertaken for new and refurbishment projects in all categories of state-funded schools including all BSF schools. To help local authorities and school designers to decide when sprinklers are needed, DCSF has produced a risk assessment tool and a cost benefit analysis tool. See www.teachernetgov.uk/fire and follow links to Sprinklers.
	Our presumption is that new schools and some refurbished schools will have fire sprinklers installed, however this is not a compulsory measure. There may be cases where local authorities or other promoters of schools consider that sprinklers are not needed. If so, they will need to be able to demonstrate that such schools are very low risk and that sprinklers would not represent good value for money.
	To date, seven schools have been built under the Building Schools for the Future programme, in Bristol, Solihull, Haringey, Sheffield, South Tyneside, Stoke and Sunderland; these include six 'early win' projects. We believe that the Bristol Brunel Academy is the only one fitted with a sprinkler system. This was a large new build project and the most suitable for a sprinkler installation. Five of the other six schools were refurbishment projects where it may not have been technically feasible to install sprinkler systems. It is also more expensive to install sprinklers in a refurbishment which means they do not always provide good value for money. These projects were all in the late design or construction stage when the new sprinkler policy was announced which would have made it more expensive and technically difficult to install sprinkler systems unless they were part of the original design.
	We expect approximately 80 schools to be under construction in the current financial year in the following local authorities: Bradford, Bristol, Lewisham, Sheffield, Knowsley, Lancashire, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Newcastle, Solihull, Stoke, Sunderland, Waltham Forest, Lambeth, Durham and Kent.
	Under Building Schools for the Future, we plan to rebuild, remodel or refurbish all secondary schools in England.
	For projects that were either in a late stage of design or in construction when the new sprinkler policy was announced it is difficult to introduce a sprinkler system. However, for new projects and those still in an early stage of design we expect sprinklers to be included.

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of times Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service staff will be involved in early intervention or dispute resolution during 2007-08; and what estimate he has made of the likely cost of such involvement;
	(2)  how many section 7 cases were completed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in each of the last five years; and what the cost of those cases was to the public purse in each year;
	(3)  whether any of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service regions will be recruiting additional staff during 2007-08;
	(4)  whether he plans to recalculate workload measurements for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service staff.

Kevin Brennan: These are matters for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). Anthony Douglas, the Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 3 December 2007:
	I am writing to you in response to the four Parliamentary Questions that you tabled recently:
	162333—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate he has made of the number of times Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service staff will be involved in early intervention or dispute resolution during 2007-08; and what estimate he has made of the likely cost of such involvement.
	The table below shows an estimate of the Cafcass' Dispute Resolution scheme for the financial years 2002/03 to 2006/07. This has been calculated by multiplying the number of hours spent on Dispute Resolution in the year by the Unit Cost* for an hour of practitioner activity. Statistics do not currently fully capture all case related support activity and we plan a diary survey in the spring which will enable us to make more accurate calculations and calculate averages in respect of time taken on such work. Related activity in screening cases coming before the courts prior to embarking on Dispute Resolution is also not included in these figures but plays an important part in ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place.
	
		
			  Financial Year  Total Dispute Resolution Hours  Unit Cost (£ per Hour)*  Total Cost (£) 
			 2002/03 No DR scheme in place — — 
			 2003/04 No DR scheme in place — — 
			 2004/05 34,987 41 1,446,712 
			 2005/06 (does not incl. Wales) 43,322 48 2,080,322 
			 2006/07 (does not incl. Wales) 57,880 50 2,895,736 
			 * Unit Costs are calculated at the end of each financial year dividing the total Direct** spend for the Organisation by the estimated number of hours spent on Public and Private Law cases completed in the year. ** Direct spend only includes costs directly linked to practice e.g. Staff Salary, Training, Travel & Subsistence. It does not include indirect costs e.g. Accommodation, Recruitment & Utilities. 
		
	
	162332—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many section 7 cases were completed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in each of the last five years; and what the cost of those cases was to the public purse in each year.
	The table below shows an estimate of the cost of the Section 7 Reports for the financial years 2002/03 to 2006/07. This has been calculated by multiplying the number of S7 reports completed in the year by an average cost for an S7 Report based on the Unit Costs*.
	
		
			  Financial Year  Completed S7 Reports  Avg. Cost (£) per S7 Report  Total Cost (£) 
			 2002/03 32,268 1,029 33,190,865 
			 2003/04 32,489 1,029 33,418,185 
			 2004/05 30,054 1,029 30,913,544 
			 2005/06 (does not incl. Wales) 25,478 1,265 32,232,473 
			 2006/07 (does not incl. Wales) 21,545 1,252 26,975,848 
			 * Unit Costs were calculated by dividing the total Direct** spend for the Organisation by the estimated number of hours spent on all the Public and Private Law cases completed in the year. This figure is then multiplied by the average time taken to complete a S7 Report (25 hours). ** Direct spend only includes costs directly linked to practice e.g. Staff Salary, Training, Travel & Subsistence. It does not include indirect costs e.g. Accommodation, Recruitment & Utilities. 
		
	
	162296—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, whether any of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service regions will be recruiting additional staff during 2007-08.
	There are no plans to curtail recruitment for funded posts across the organisation. 58 vacancies have been advertised in the last 3 months and appointments are in progress. Workforce plans have been developed in all areas and recruitment will begin in accordance with these plans as vacancies occur.
	162297—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, whether he plans to recalculate workload measurements for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service staff.
	Cafcass is currently reviewing allocation guidelines for family court advisors and recognises that changed working practices and the move to case planning as the basis for workload measurement as opposed to set formulas makes this a more complex process. A joint management and trade union working group is planning a diary survey in the spring, which will inform future workload planning.
	A copy of this reply will be placed in the House Library.

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what representations he has received on the workload of service managers at the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the workload of service managers of the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service;
	(3)  who conducted the recent Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service staff survey; by whom they were employed; and what remuneration they received;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the implementation of the recommendations contained in the consultation Organising for Quality for service delivery and funding at the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service;
	(5)  what plans he has for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service pilot programmes arising from the consultation Organising for Quality in the next two years.

Kevin Brennan: These are matters for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). Anthony Douglas, the chief executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 11 December 2007:
	I am writing to you in response to the four Parliamentary Questions that you tabled recently:
	167734—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, who conducted the recent Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service staff survey; by whom they were employed; and what remuneration they received.
	Cafcass conducted its first staff survey in December 2006 to provide the baseline data to understand staff perceptions on a range of issues. Many of these issues were then included in the Cafcass 2007-10 business plan. The staff survey was produced internally to provide value for money but with the responses directed to the University of Birmingham's department of Organisational Psychology to provide respondents with anonymity.
	The following individuals and companies unconnected with Cafcass were involved in the staff survey:
	
		
			  Contributor  Payments (£) 
			 Dr. Dirk Van Rooy (University of Birmingham) No payment 
			 Caroline Mollers (University of Birmingham) 510.00 
			 Sue Rentoul Design 6,261.90 
			 The Organisers 1,613.32 
		
	
	The following Cafcass employees were involved in the production of the staff survey: The Corporate Director of Strategy and Performance, Head of Communications, a Human Resources Manager, the Publications Editor and Communications Officer. A Family Court Adviser conducted the analysis of the data under the supervision of Dr Dirk Van Rooy of the University of Birmingham who provided Cafcass with a declaration of authenticity. The raw data was input from the individual returns by a student at Birmingham University.
	167735—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what assessment he has made of the effect of the implementation of the recommendations contained in the consultation Organising for Quality for service delivery and finding at the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.
	170314—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what plans he has for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service pilot programmes arising from the consultation Organising for Quality in the next two years.
	The consultation ended on 28 February 2007 and a full response was published. There are two strands to the programmes of work to take forward the Organising for Quality programme. The first of these is the introduction of new National Standards for Cafcass. These were introduced on 01 April 2007 and are supported by revised practice guidelines and a comprehensive training programme. The second strand is that of organisational structures aimed at further efficiencies and improved practice. The changes at the first line management level are being achieved through a refocusing of priorities and a narrowing of the roles and responsibilities of first line managers to focus on practice, performance and staff development.
	The majority of the structural changes will be completed by April 2008 and a period of consolidation will then follow.
	There were thirty-two key proposals in the Cafcass consultation paper Organising for Quality. Twenty-two are being taken forward either as part of the current Cafcass restructuring programme, or within the delivery of the 2007-10 Business Plan. Six proposals are being taken forward in a modified form. Only one proposal for a Practice Advice Line, is being piloted. Four proposals are not being proceeded with at all, following a review of all proposals we received in the light of the consultation responses.
	167878—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what assessment he has made of the workload of service managers of the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service.
	Cafcass are in the process of negotiating significant changes to the Service Manager role to ensure both manageable and effective workloads. We intend to give Service Managers a reduced span of control and more business support to enable them to focus on practice, performance and staff development. These changes will be in place across most of the country by the start of the new financial year in April 2008.
	167879—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what representations he has received about the workload of service managers at the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service.
	No specific additional representations were received from service managers, apart from those received on a number of previous occasions, both directly and via trade unions and professional associations. Cafcass accepted the core points being made some time ago, and resolution of them has needed to wait for the resources to become available. Over the last two years, we did increase our national establishment by 15 Service Managers, which has made a difference, but my intention is that we take further steps in April 2008 to reduce workloads.
	A copy of this reply will be placed in the House Library.

Children: Disabled

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what the waiting times are for disabled children in receipt of direct payments, who have been reassessed and are waiting for a change in care level, broken down by local authority area;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of how many disabled children are  (a) eligible for and  (b) receiving direct payments in each local authority area;
	(3)  what formula is used by the Government in defining levels of need in relation to disabled children's provision through direct payments; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: There is no information collected on waiting times or eligibility for direct payments, nor any estimate made of these. However, data are collected on the number of disabled children aged 16-17, and the number of carers of disabled children, receiving direct payments at 31 March each year. The most recent data available are for 31 March 2006, and show that 649 children and 4,170 carers were receiving these payments in England. These data are also available by local authority, and have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	In terms of local government funding, the children's social care relative needs formula (RNF) is designed specifically to allocate funding for the provision of children's social care services in local authorities in England. The formula takes account of the resident children population aged 0 to 17, deprivation top-up, foster and area cost adjustments. However, there is no specific element of the formula which takes into account the use of direct payments. This is because direct payments are designed to be cost-neutral, providing equivalent cash payments made in lieu of social service provisions to individuals or families.

Children: Literacy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received on the reading ability of school children in England.

Jim Knight: The recently published Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) shows we have performed well compared to other countries. On average, pupils in England achieved significantly above the international mean.
	More generally, improving standards of literacy is one of this Government's top priorities. We have seen dramatic improvements in the proportion of 11-year-olds achieving the target level 4 and above in reading. In 2007, 84 per cent. of pupils achieved this level—a rise of 17 percentage points compared to 1997. A third of 11-year-olds achieved the higher level 5 in reading, the standard expected of 14-year-olds.
	
		
			  Proportion of pupils achieving level 4+ in reading 
			   Level 4  Level 5 
			 1997 67 20 
			 1998 71 23 
			 1999 78 31 
			 2000 83 42 
			 2001 82 42 
			 2002 80 38 
			 2003 81 42 
			 2004 83 39 
			 2005 84 43 
			 2006 83 47 
			 2007(1) 84 48 
			 (1) Amended data. 
		
	
	Although these results are the best ever, we know that we can and must do more. We have a strong platform for securing further improvements. The Children's Plan, published on 11 December sets out that vision and our goals for achieving world-class standards.
	Every primary school is now using the renewed Primary Framework which puts phonics at the heart of the teaching of reading. We are also introducing nationally the Every Child a Reader (ECAR) programme. By 2011 this programme will provide 30,000 six-year-olds who have difficulty reading with intensive one-to-one tuition each year. Results from the first year of the pilot, involving some of the most disadvantaged children, showed they made well over four times the normal rate of progress in reading as a result of the programme.

Corporate Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on how many occasions he has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months.

Edward Balls: Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what the cost of the education maintenance allowance has been in each  (a) London constituency,  (b) London borough and  (c) Government region since its introduction; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what percentage of applications for an education maintenance allowance have been successful in each  (a) London constituency,  (b) London borough and  (c) Government office region; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what percentage of 16 to 19 year olds in each  (a) London constituency,  (b) London borough and  (c) Government region have received the (i) £10, (ii) £20 and (iii) £30 education maintenance allowance; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many people in each  (a) London constituency,  (b) London borough and  (c) Government region have applied for an education maintenance allowance; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what percentage of 16 to 19 year olds in each  (a) London constituency,  (b) London borough and  (c) Government region have applied for an education maintenance allowance; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  how many people in each  (a) London constituency,  (b) London borough and  (c) Government region have received the (i) £10, (ii) £20 and (iii) £30 education maintenance allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: These are all matters for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and hold the information about take-up and payments under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 22 November 2007:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Questions that asked:
	1. What the cost of the education maintenance allowance has been in each (a) London constituency, (b) London borough and (c) Government region since its introduction.
	2. What percentage of applications for an education maintenance allowance have been successful in each (a) London constituency, (b) London borough and (c) Government office region.
	3. What percentage of 16 to 19 year olds in each (a) London constituency, (b) London borough and (c) Government region have received the (i) £10, (ii) £20 and (iii) £30 education maintenance allowance.
	4. How many people in each (a) London constituency, (b) London borough and (c) Government region have applied for an education maintenance allowance.
	5. What percentage of 16 to 19 year olds in each (a) London constituency, (b) London borough and (c) Government region have applied for an education maintenance allowance.
	6. How many people in each (a) London constituency, (b) London borough and (c) Government region have received the (i) £10, (ii) £20 and (iii) £30 education maintenance allowance.
	Information on the number of young people who have applied, enrolled and received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available at national and Local Authority Level, but not at constituency level. EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
	We do not hold population data for 19 year olds so the figures shown in the tables below are based on 16-18 year old data.
	Information on cost is only available at a national level. EMA payments to learners during academic year 2006/2007 totalled £483 million.
	The following tables show the information requested which relates to EMA applications for London LSC area, London Local Authority area and LSC Regions during the academic year 2006/07.
	
		
			  Application data, LSC/local authority, 2006/07 
			   Number of young people who applied for an EMA  Percentage of the 16 to 18-year-old population who applied for EMA  Percentage of applications received that were successful 
			 England 569,066 28.4 97.6 
			 East Midlands 48,343 27.7 97.6 
			 East of England 51,549 24.0 97.5 
			 London 90,870 33.7 97.8 
			 North East 34,628 33.8 97.4 
			 North West 90,436 31.9 97.8 
			 South East 68,986 21.2 97.5 
			 South West 52,526 26.1 98.4 
			 West Midlands 69,713 31.6 97.5 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 62,015 29.7 97.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Application data, regional, 2006/07 
			   Number of young people who applied for an EMA  Percentage of the 16 to 18-year-old population who applied for EMA  Percentage of applications received that were successful (NOE's issued) 
			 London Central 17,554 36.3 98.1 
			 Camden 2,115 30.2 98.4 
			 Islington 2,435 42.7 98.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 978 18.1 98.3 
			 Lambeth 4,077 49.1 97.8 
			 Southwark 3,915 46.6 98.3 
			 Wandsworth 2,378 36.0 97.6 
			 City of Westminster 1,656 23.7 98.4 
			 London East 30,080 37.9 97.8 
			 City of London 80 (1)— 93.8 
			 Greenwich 3,087 35.9 97.1 
			 Hackney 3,887 49.8 98.4 
			 Lewisham 3,634 41.3 97.7 
			 Tower Hamlets 4,222 53.4 98.8 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,505 37.4 97.6 
			 Bexley 2,069 22.5 97.2 
			 Havering 1,918 21.3 97.1 
			 Newham 5,543 49.5 98.0 
			 Redbridge 3,135 31.0 97.6 
			 London North 14,072 36.2 97.7 
			 Barnet 3,137 26.6 97.5 
			 Enfield 3,870 35.5 97.4 
			 Haringey 3,716 47.0 98.1 
			 Waltham Forest 3,349 40.3 97.7 
			 London South 11,806 23.8 97.8 
			 Bromley 2,273 20.3 98.5 
			 Croydon 4,230 31.1 97.6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 989 17.4 97.6 
			 Merton 1,898 29.7 97.2 
			 Richmond upon Thames 891 15.4 98.4 
			 Sutton 1,525 21.8 98.2 
			 London West 17,358 32.4 97.5 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,777 34.8 97.7 
			 Brent 4,131 40.9 97.7 
			 Ealing 3,767 35.2 97.4 
			 Harrow 2,527 26.9 97.3 
			 Hillingdon 2,464 23.9 97.4 
			 Hounslow 2,692 33.7 97.2 
			 (1) No population data. 
		
	
	The following table shows the information requested which relates to EMA take-up for London LSC area, London Local Authority area and LSC Regions during the academic year 2006/07.
	
		
			  Take-up data split by payment band, LSC/local authority, 2006/07 
			   Number of learners who received the £30 EMA  Percentage of the 16 to 18-year-old population who received the £30 EMA  Number of learners who received the £20 EMA  Percentage of the 16 to 18-year-old population who received the £20 EMA  Number of learners who received the £10 EMA  Percentage of the 16 to 18-year-old population who received the £10 EMA 
			 England 423,839 21.2 51,195 2.6 45,249 2.3 
			 East Midlands 34,936 20.01 4,957 2.8 4,428 2.5 
			 East of England 37,121 17.31 5,320 2.5 4,766 2.2 
			 London 71,869 26.63 6,006 2.2 4,522 1.7 
			 North East 26,044 25.43 2,976 2.9 2,676 2.6 
			 North West 68,985 24.34 7,485 2.6 6,502 2.3 
			 South East 49,885 15.31 7,051 2.2 6,224 1.9 
			 South West 37,678 18.75 5,489 2.7 5,131 2.6 
			 West Midlands 51,370 23.27 6,411 2.9 5,747 2.6 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 45,951 21.99 5,500 2.6 5,253 2.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Take-up data split by payment band, regional, 2006/07 
			   Number of learners who received the £30 EMA  Percentage of the 16 to 18-year-old population who received the £30 EMA  Number of learners who received the £20 EMA  Percentage of the 16 to 18-year-old population who received the £20 EMA  Number of learners who received the £10 EMA  Percentage of the 16 to 18-year-old population who received the £10 EMA 
			 London Central 14,519 30.0 957 2.0 590 1.2 
			 Camden 1,818 26.0 94 1.3 43 0.6 
			 Islington 2,016 35.4 104 1.8 76 1.3 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 814 15.1 42 0.8 35 0.6 
			 Lambeth 3,359 40.5 262 3.2 131 1.6 
			 Southwark 3,206 38.2 225 2.7 153 1.8 
			 Wandsworth 1,917 29.0 148 2.2 103 1.6 
			 City of Westminster 1,389 19.8 82 1.2 49 0.7 
			 London East 24,112 28.4 1,748 2.2 1,449 1.8 
			 City of London 63 (1)— 2 (1)— 3 (1)— 
			 Greenwich 2,408 28.0 202 2.3 155 1.8 
			 Hackney 3,260 41.8 171 2.2 108 14 
			 Lewisham 2,823 14.4 258 2.9 228 2.6 
			 Tower Hamlets 3,768 47.7 66 0.8 49 0.6 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,961 29.3 187 2.8 121 1.8 
			 Bexley 1,485 16.1 210 2.3 193 2.1 
			 Havering 1,353 15.0 179 2.0 190 2.1 
			 Newham 4,558 40.7 264 2.4 202 1.8 
			 Redbridge 2,433 24.1 209 2.1 200 2.0 
			 London North 11,048 28.4 934 2.4 685 1.8 
			 Barnet 2,423 20.5 217 1.8 176 1.5 
			 Enfield 2,965 27.2 286 2.6 226 2.1 
			 Haringey 3,037 38.4 202 2.6 110 1.4 
			 Waltham Forest 2,623 31.6 229 2.8 173 2.1 
			 London South 8,750 17.6 1,074 2.2 850 1.7 
			 Bromley 1,661 14.8 217 1.9 176 1.6 
			 Croydon 3,200 23.5 341 2.5 274 2.0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 720 12.6 91 1.6 91 1.6 
			 Merton 1,373 21.5 183 2.9 135 2.1 
			 Richmond upon Thames 687 11.8 79 1.4 57 1.0 
			 Sutton 1,109 15.8 163 2.3 117 1.7 
			 London West 13,440 25.1 1,293 2.4 948 1.8 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,441 28.3 97 1.9 74 1.5 
			 Brent 3,250 32.2 282 2.8 192 1.9 
			 Ealing 2,973 27.8 260 2.4 188 1.8 
			 Harrow 1,897 20.2 225 2.4 174 1.9 
			 Hillingdon 1,852 18.0 217 2.1 145 1.4 
			 Hounslow 2,027 25.3 212 2.7 175 2.2 
			 (1) No population data. 
		
	
	EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and to date in 2007/08 is now also available on the LSC website, at the following address:
	http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/EMA_take_up.htm

Education Maintenance Allowance

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much expenditure on education maintenance allowance (EMA) was provided to people in each local education authority in each year since the inception of the allowance; how many people of each  (a) sex and  (b) ethnic group have received EMA in each academic year since its inception; how many of those in receipt of EMA in each academic year went on to (i) study and (ii) complete a course at university; and what assessment has been made of those trends;
	(2)  what the administrative costs of the education maintenance allowance scheme were in each year since 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: These are matters for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Mark Haysom, the LSC's chief executive, will write to the hon. Lady and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 22  N ovember 2007:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Questions that asked:
	1. How much expenditure on educational maintenance allowance (EMA) has been provided to people in each local education authority in each year since the inception of the allowance; how many people of each (a) sex and (b) ethnic group have received EMA in each academic year since its inception; how many of those in receipt of EMA in each academic year went on to (i) study and (ii) complete a course at university; and what assessment has been made of those figures.
	2. What the administrative costs of the educational maintenance allowance scheme have been in each year since 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement.
	Information relating to costs of EMA are only available at a national level. The following table shows the expenditure on EMA payments to learners by financial year since inception.
	
		
			   EMA student payment costs (£) 
			 1999-2000 10,560,000.00 
			 2000-01 49,920,000.00 
			 2001-02 104,600,000,00 
			 2002-03 115,200,000,00 
			 2003-04 136,300,000,00 
			 2004-05 217,300,000.00 
			 2005-06 363,100,000.00 
			 2006-07 457,100,000.00 
		
	
	The following table shows the information requested which relates to the administration costs of EMA by financial year:
	
		
			   EMA admin costs (£ million) 
			 1999-2000 0.44 
			 2000-01 2.08 
			 2001-02 4.4 
			 2002-03 4.8 
			 2003-04 5.7 
			 2004-05 42.7 
			 2005-06 43.5 
			 2006-07 45.8 
		
	
	Information on the number of young people who have received EMA payments each academic year is provided below, split by Gender and Ethnicity. This information is collected as part of the application process for EMA and is non-mandatory. The No Information Provided rows below detail where this section was left incomplete.
	
		
			  Gender  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 
			 Male 125,516 187,912 244,345 
			 Female 144,764 218,215 270,178 
			 No information provided 27,287 24,202 13,873 
			 Total 297,567 430,329 528,396 
		
	
	
		
			  Ethnicity  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 
			  Asian or Asian British
			 Bangladeshi 7,840 8,065 9,893 
			 Indian 10,983 12,370 14,282 
			 Pakistani 15,137 18,916 21,760 
			 Any other Asian background 3,602 4,301 5,596 
			 
			  Black or Black British
			 African 9,820 12,967 16,626 
			 Caribbean 7,175 8,842 10,747 
			 Any other black background 1,260 1,558 1,786 
			 
			  Chinese
			 Chinese 2,755 3,336 3,878 
			 
			  Mixed
			 White and Asian 1,792 2,581 3,155 
			 White and Black African 1,028 1,341 1,631 
			 White and Black Caribbean 4,652 5,839 7,934 
			 Any other mixed background 2,720 3,672 4,452 
			 
			  White
			 British 200,808 301,158 387,672 
			 Irish 1,402 849 1,027 
			 Any other white background 4,074 5,267 6,390 
			 
			 No information provided 22,519 39,267 31,567 
			 Total 297,567 430,329 528,396 
		
	
	The first cohort of learners to be eligible to receive EMA following national roll-out will have recently progressed into higher education. The LSC is working with UCAS and HESA to analyse those learners who have progressed to higher education courses after completing further education with support from EMA. We are planning that the results of this work to be available in Summer 2008.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many young people in  (a) Warrington, South and  (b) Warrington received the education maintenance allowance in each year since its establishment.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), who operate the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and hold the information about take-up and payments made under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Lady with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 28 November 2007:
	I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Question that asked; how many young people in  (a) Warrington South and  (b) Warrington received the education maintenance allowance in each year since its establishment.
	Information on the number of young people who have applied, enrolled and received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available at Local Authority Level but not at local area level. EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
	EMA take-up for Warrington Local Authority area during each academic year since inception is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004/05 726 
			 2005/06 1,332 
			 2006/07 1,685 
			 2007/08 (1)1,497 
			 (1 )To 31 October 2007. 
		
	
	EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and to date in 2007/08 is now also available on the LSC website, at the following address:
	http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/EMA_take_up.htm

Education Maintenance Allowance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effects of education maintenance allowances on educational attainment; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for the operation of the education maintenance allowance (EMA) scheme. An analysis of the impact of EMA on attainment was commissioned by the LSC and a copy of the results, with a summary of the key findings was placed in the House Library, on 3 December 2007.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Apprentices

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many learners in programme-led apprenticeships have received an education maintenance allowance.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), who operate the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and hold the information about take-up and payments under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 26 November 2007:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question that asked; "How many learners in programme-led apprenticeships have received an education maintenance allowance."
	By mid November 2007, 5,811 learners in programme-led apprenticeships have received one or more Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) payments during the 2007/08 academic year.
	EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and to date in 2007/08 is now also available on the LSC website, at the following address:
	http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/EMA_take_up.htm

Education: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether it is the policy of his Department to regard trends in examination results in England as reliable quantitative indicators of long-term changes in educational standards; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department has a public service agreement (PSA) to support its strategic objective to achieve world-class standards in education by raising the educational achievement of all children and young people. The proportion of young people who succeed in public examinations is one of the key performance indicators of this PSA. In this context it is important that exam standards are maintained, which is why the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has rigorous procedures in place for ensuring consistency over time.
	To ensure the reliability of the PSAs, each target is supported by guidance which sets out exactly how it will be measured. The Department is committed to ensuring that PSA targets are supported by rigorous performance information and in conjunction with the National Audit Office (NAO) has reviewed the data systems underpinning the former DfES PSA targets and is acting on these findings. A copy of the departmental report on progress towards meeting the Department's public service agreement (PSA) targets has been placed in the Library.

Faith Schools: Admissions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of religious schools select pupils for admission by faith; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Schools are not allowed to select pupils for admission by faith. Schools designated as having a religious character under section 69 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 may give priority, when oversubscribed, to children on the basis that they are members of or practise their faith. We know that practices vary widely and that a number of schools with a religious character do not give priority on the basis of faith and others offer a proportion of places to children without reference to faith.
	The priority given to faith applicants is not "selection" (as the term is used in education law) because it does not relate to academic aptitude or ability.

Family Courts

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average time was to complete a  (a) private law and  (b) public law case in the family courts in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the average cost was of each.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	In the county court, for the period April to November 2007, it took on average 33.12 weeks to complete a private law case and 55.02 weeks for a public law case. There are no data currently collected in the Family Proceedings Court (FPCs) on the average length of private law cases. In the FPCs the average duration of cases where a care or supervision order was made (April 2007 to November 2007) was 44.3 weeks. Between April and November 2007, 51 per cent. of care and supervision cases in FPCs and 39.6 per cent. of care and supervision cases in care centres were completed within 40 weeks.
	The unit cost for private law applications (judicial and administrative costs) for financial year 2006-07 is £996 in the county courts and £1,232 in the Family Proceedings Courts. The equivalent figures for public law applications are £4,286 and £4,014. The average legal aid cost of private law matters is £2,790 and for public law matters is £5,961. No information is held centrally on average local authority costs.

Free School Meals: Greater Manchester

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils on free school meals achieved five grade A*-C GCSEs in  (a) Manchester and  (b) Greater Manchester in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: Information for Greater Manchester is not available. The figures for Manchester are:
	
		
			   2003 / 04  2004 / 05  2005 / 06 
			 Number of eligible pupils 1,925 1,957 1,974 
			 Percentage of pupils on free school meals achieving 5 A*-C GCSE grades 27.0 30.9 32.3 
		
	
	These figures can be found in the following Statistical First Releases (SFRs):
	2003/04: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000564/index.shtml (Table 48)
	2004/05: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000640/index.shtml (Table 91)
	2005/06: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000693/index.shtml (Table 73)
	Figures for the academic year 2006/07 have not yet been published and will be included in the SFR released in the week beginning 28 January 2008.

Free School Meals: North East Region

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of students in  (a) the City of Sunderland and  (b) the North East Region are eligible to receive free school meals.

Jim Knight: Figures from the school census 2007 show that the proportion of students known to be eligible to receive free school meals in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in Sunderland is 16.9 per cent., compared to 18.1 per cent. in the North East region. These figures include dually registered and boarding pupils.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many maintained mainstream schools did not submit any pupils for a foreign language GCSE in each year since 2002;
	(2)  how many pupils sat ICT GNVQ in each year since 2002; and how many of these gained A* to C grades;
	(3)  how many pupils sat Edexcel mathematics GCSE in each year since 2000;
	(4)  how many mainstream maintained schools did not offer  (a) French,  (b) German and  (c) Spanish GCSE to pupils in each year since 2002;
	(5)  how many mainstream maintained schools offer only single science GCSE to pupils;
	(6)  how many mainstream maintained schools do not offer the three separate sciences at GCSE to pupils.

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many mainstream secondary schools have not entered students for a GCSE in  (a) a modern language and  (b) music in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Free School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of white British boys eligible for free school meals failed to obtain at least five GCSEs at any level in each year between 1996 and 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The available information covers the proportion of pupils achieving 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent and are given in the table.
	
		
			  Percentage of white British boys eligible for free school meals who achieved five A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent( 1) , at maintained schools, 2002 to 2006 
			   Percentage achieving 5 A*-C grades  Percentage not achieving 5 A*-C grades 
			 2002(2) 16.1 83.9 
			 2003 16.8 83.2 
			 2004 18.3 81.7 
			 2005 21.0 79.0 
			 2006 24.0 76.0 
			 (1) Based upon 15 year old pupils (age at start of academic year) for figures up to and including 2004. For 2005 onwards figures are based upon pupils at the end of Key Stage 4.  (2) Figures for 2002 relate to pupils classified as 'white' rather than 'white British'. 
		
	
	Data are sourced from the National Pupil Database which began in 2002. The latest figures relate to 2006 where 90.9 per cent. of white British boys eligible for free school meals achieved any passes (9.1 per cent. achieving no passes). These figures are published in Table 32 of SFR46/2006 "National Curriculum Assessment, GCSE and Equivalent Attainment and Post-16 Attainment by Pupil Characteristics in England 2005-06, (Provisional)" which can be found at
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000693/index.shtml.
	Equivalent figures for 2006-07 will be published at the end of January 2008 as additional tables to SFR 38/2007 which can be found at
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000759/index.shtml .

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Kent

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in how many secondary schools in Kent over 70 per cent. of pupils did not achieve five A*-C GCSEs, including English and mathematics, in the latest year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information is available from the 2006 Secondary School Achievement and Attainment Tables in the House of Commons Library.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: North East Region

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils in  (a) the City of Sunderland and  (b) the North East achieved more than five A* to C grades at GCSE in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportion of 15-year-old pupils( 1)  achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C at GCSE or equivalent—years: 1997-2007 (Sunderland LA and the North East region) 
			  Year( 2)  Sunderland  North East region 
			 1996/97(3) 34.4 36.8 
			 1997/98 32.3 37.1 
			 1998/99 34.6 39.4 
			 1999/2000 38.4 41.7 
			 2000/01 39.2 42.5 
			 2001/02 41.6 44.3 
			 2002/03 44.1 46.8 
			 2003/04(4) 44.2 48,7 
			 2004/05 51.5 53.5 
			 2005/06 54.9 57.3 
			 2006/07 58.7 59.6 
			 (1) Number of pupils on roll aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August. (2) Data for 2007 are provisional and final for all other years. (3) Percentages from 1996/97 include GCSEs and GNVQs. (4) Percentages from 2003/04 include GCSEs and other equivalent qualifications approved for use pre-16.  Source: Secondary School Achievement and Attainment tables 
		
	
	Figures include achievements in previous academic years.
	The increase in the proportion of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more good GCSEs in Sunderland (24.3 per cent.) and the North East region (22.8 per cent.) compares favourably with a national increase of 15.2 per cent. over the same period.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will list the  (a) top 20 and  (b) bottom 20 maintained secondary schools in England on the basis of the proposition of pupils obtaining five A* to C GCSEs in 2007, setting out in each case (i) GCSE performance, (ii) percentage of children eligible for free school meals, (iii) school type, (iv) local authority, (v) OFSTED classification and (vi) percentage of statemented children.

Jim Knight: This information is not available until the publication of the KS4 Achievement and Attainment Tables on 10 January 2008.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of secondary schools had fewer than  (a) 10 per cent.,  (b) 20 per cent.,  (c) 30 per cent.,  (d) 40 per cent.,  (e) 50 per cent.,  (f) 60 per cent.,  (g) 70 per cent.,  (h) 80 per cent. and  (i) 90 per cent., of pupils obtaining five A* to C grades in GCSEs (i) including English and mathematics and (ii) in all subjects in the latest year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Information on secondary schools and the pupils in each school achieving 5+ A*-C and 5+ A*-C including English and mathematics is included in the 2006 key stage 4 achievement and attainment tables. Full details of each school and the requested information can be found in the House of Commons Library. 2007 figures will be available from January 2008.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Standards

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools in each local education authority area had fewer than  (a) 30 per cent. and  (b) 40 per cent. of pupils achieving five passes at GCSE including mathematics and English in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: holding answer 3 December 2007
	Information for each of the years individually is in the Library.
	We have summarised the figures in the following table showing the number of schools in each local authority achieving fewer than  (a) 30 per cent. and  (b) 40 per cent. in all of the last three years.
	These figures relate to maintained schools only. Schools without published results for each of the last three years are not included in the analysis.
	To answer this question, figures for the academic years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 have been used as the data for 2006-07 have not yet been published. Schools and colleges will get the chance to amend their results before the revised data are published in January 2008.
	
		
			  Schools with <30 per cent. and <40 per cent. 5+ A*-C including English and mathematics 2004-2006 
			  LA number  LA name  <30 per cent.  <40 per cent. 
			 202 Camden 3 5 
			 203 Greenwich 5 9 
			 204 Hackney 4 6 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 5 5 
			 206 Islington 5 9 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 0 0 
			 208 Lambeth 6 6 
			 209 Lewisham 5 7 
			 210 Southwark 9 9 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 9 12 
			 212 Wandsworth 9 11 
			 213 City of Westminster 2 3 
			 301 Barking 3 6 
			 302 Barnet 4 6 
			 303 Bexley 6 9 
			 304 Brent 4 7 
			 305 Bromley 3 6 
			 306 Croydon 11 14 
			 307 Ealing 4 8 
			 308 Enfield 8 10 
			 309 Haringey 8 9 
			 310 Harrow 1 3 
			 311 Havering 4 7 
			 312 Hillingdon 5 9 
			 313 Hounslow 5 6 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 3 4 
			 315 Merton 4 5 
			 316 Newham 1 8 
			 317 Redbridge 2 3 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 1 3 
			 319 Sutton 4 5 
			 320 Waltham Forest 4 11 
			 330 Birmingham 41 47 
			 331 Coventry 8 14 
			 332 Dudley 8 13 
			 333 Sandwell 12 16 
			 334 Solihull 7 7 
			 335 Walsall 11 15 
			 336 Wolverhampton 9 14 
			 340 Knowsley 8 10 
			 341 Liverpool 17 22 
			 342 St. Helens 3 6 
			 343 Sefton 9 11 
			 344 Wirral 9 13 
			 350 Bolton 6 10 
			 351 Bury 1 2 
			 352 Manchester 18 23 
			 353 Oldham 6 9 
			 354 Rochdale 6 10 
			 355 Salford 8 10 
			 356 Stockport 2 6 
			 357 Tameside 7 9 
			 358 Trafford 7 8 
			 359 Wigan 5 12 
			 370 Barnsley 4 10 
			 371 Doncaster 11 15 
			 372 Rotherham 7 10 
			 373 Sheffield 9 16 
			 380 Bradford 12 19 
			 381 Calderdale 3 9 
			 382 Kirklees 12 18 
			 383 Leeds 13 18 
			 384 Wakefield 2 10 
			 390 Gateshead 5 9 
			 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 5 8 
			 392 North Tyneside 3 6 
			 393 South Tyneside 3 8 
			 394 Sunderland 9 13 
			 420 Isles of Scilly 0 0 
			 800 Bath and North East Somerset 2 4 
			 801 City of Bristol 15 16 
			 802 North Somerset 2 5 
			 803 South Gloucestershire 2 6 
			 805 Hartlepool 2 3 
			 806 Middlesbrough 7 7 
			 807 Redcar and Cleveland 2 5 
			 808 Stockton-on-Tees 6 9 
			 810 City of Kingston upon Hull 12 14 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 2 5 
			 812 North East Lincolnshire 9 10 
			 813 North Lincolnshire 3 9 
			 815 North Yorkshire 10 12 
			 816 York 1 3 
			 820 Bedfordshire 6 10 
			 821 Luton 3 6 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 11 17 
			 826 Milton Keynes 7 8 
			 830 Derbyshire 9 20 
			 831 City of Derby 5 6 
			 835 Dorset 4 7 
			 836 Poole 3 3 
			 837 Bournemouth 3 5 
			 840 Durham 11 26 
			 841 Darlington 3 5 
			 845 East Sussex 10 14 
			 846 Brighton and Hove 6 8 
			 850 Hampshire 16 24 
			 851 Portsmouth 7 9 
			 852 Southampton 7 11 
			 855 Leicestershire 1 4 
			 856 Leicester City 10 13 
			 857 Rutland 0 0 
			 860 Staffordshire 15 25 
			 861 Stoke on Trent 11 13 
			 865 Wiltshire 4 10 
			 866 Swindon 4 6 
			 867 Bracknell Forest 1 4 
			 868 Windsor and Maidenhead 1 3 
			 869 Newbury 2 3 
			 870 Reading 3 4 
			 871 Slough 4 7 
			 872 Wokingham 2 3 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 8 10 
			 874 Peterborough 9 12 
			 875 Cheshire 14 17 
			 876 Halton 5 8 
			 877 Warrington 3 5 
			 878 Devon 7 14 
			 879 Plymouth 11 11 
			 880 Torbay 4 5 
			 881 Essex 30 43 
			 882 Southend 7 8 
			 883 Thurrock 1 3 
			 884 Herefordshire 2 4 
			 885 Worcestershire 9 15 
			 886 Kent 51 69 
			 887 Rochester and Gillingham 8 12 
			 888 Lancashire 21 36 
			 889 Blackburn 3 8 
			 890 Blackpool 5 7 
			 891 Nottinghamshire 20 32 
			 892 Nottingham City 15 16 
			 893 Shropshire 1 2 
			 894 TheWrekin 7 11 
			 908 Cornwall 2 6 
			 909 Cumbria 5 16 
			 916 Gloucestershire 15 16 
			 919 Hertfordshire 20 34 
			 921 Isle of Wight 2 3 
			 925 Lincolnshire 26 42 
			 926 Norfolk 13 23 
			 928 Northamptonshire 15 21 
			 929 Northumberland 6 8 
			 931 Oxfordshire 8 12 
			 933 Somerset 4 12 
			 935 Suffolk 8 15 
			 936 Surrey 19 24 
			 937 Warwickshire 9 17 
			 938 West Sussex 11 15

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which secondary schools had less than 30 per cent. of pupils securing five A*-C GCSEs including mathematics and English in the latest reporting period, broken down by local authority; what percentage of pupils in each school  (a) were eligible for free school meals and  (b) secured five A*-C GCSEs, including mathematics and English; and whether specialist status had been achieved by each.

Jim Knight: The information required has been placed in the Library.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of students at Key Stage 3 achieved  (a) no GCSE passes and  (b) fewer than five GCSE passes in each year between 1996 and 2007.

Jim Knight: The information requested is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportions of students achieving (a) no GCSE passes and (b) fewer than five GCSE passes—years: 1996/97 to 2006/07( 1)  (provisional)( 2) 
			  Coverage: England 
			Percentage who achieved 
			   Number of pupils( 3)  No  passes at GCSE or equivalent( 4)  Fewer than five A*-G grades at GCSE or equivalent 
			  15-year-olds
			 1996/97(5) 586,766 7.7 13.6 
			 1997/98 575,210 6.6 12.5 
			 1998/99 580,972 6.0 11.5 
			 1999/2000 580,393 5.6 11.1 
			 2000/01 603,318 5.5 11.1 
			 2001/02 606,554 5.4 11.1 
			 2002/03 622,122 5.2 11.2 
			 2003/04(6) 643,560 4.1 11.2 
			 2004/05 636,771 3.6 11.0 
			 2005/06 648,942 3.3 10.6 
			 2006/07 656,667 2.7 10.1 
			 
			  Pupils at end Key Stage 4
			 2004/05 633,414 2.6 9.8 
			 2005/06 645,931 2.2 9.5 
			 2006/07 648,752 0.9 8.4 
			 (1) Including attempts and achievement in previous academic years. (2) Figures for 2006/07 are provisional, all other figures are final. (3) Number of pupils on roll aged 15 at the start of the academic year or from 2004/05 end of Key Stage 4 figures are the number of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in that academic year. (4) From 2003/04 this includes attempts in entry level qualifications which do not contribute towards A*-C or A*-G thresholds. (5) Percentages for all years include GCSEs and GNVQs. (6) Percentages from 2003/04 include GCSEs and other equivalent qualifications approved for use pre-16.  Source: Secondary School Achievement and Attainment tables 
		
	
	Figures for pupils at the end of key stage 4 are only available from 2004/05 onwards.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils failed in GCSE exams in  (a) history,  (b) geography,  (c) mathematics,  (d) French,  (e) science,  (f) physics,  (g) chemistry and  (h) physical education in each year from 1997 to 2007.

Jim Knight: The available information on GCSE exams is shown in the following table. The revised 2007 data will be available in SFR 01/2008 GCSE and equivalent examination results in England 2006-07 (revised) and will be published on the Department's website in January.
	
		
			  Percentage who did not achieve grades A*-G( 1)  1997 to 2007 
			   History  Geography  Maths  French  B iological s cience  Physics  Chemistry  Other  s cience  P hysical e ducation 
			 2007(2) 2.5 2.4 4.4 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.2 5.9 0.4 
			 2006 2.4 2.7 3.1 0.9 0.5 0.3 0.3 7.6 0.5 
			 2005 2.6 3.1 3.2 1.2 0.5 0.3 0.4 4.5 0.6 
			 2004 2.9 3.1 3.5 2.0 0.4 0.3 0.2 8.3 0.6 
			 2003 3.1 3.3 3.9 2.2 2.8 0.4 0.3 5.9 0.8 
			 2002 3.2 2.6 3.1 1.5 0.4 0.5 0.4 4.9 0.9 
			 2001 5.2 2.8 33 3.9 0.5 0.5 0.4 4.1 9.2 
			 2000 2.7 2.6 32 1.4 0.7 0.4 0.4 4.9 0.9 
			 1999 3.1 2.9 3.8 1.3 0.6 0.5 0.4 5.0 1.1 
			 1998 3.5 2.7 5.1 1.5 0.7 0.6 0.5 6.1 1.1 
			 1997 4.0 3.2 4.4 3.1 0.8 0.7 0.8 6.9 3.0 
			 (1). Based on 15 year-old pupils (age at start of academic year) with the exception of 2007 which are based on pupils at the end of KS4. (2) Provisional.

Grammar Schools

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many requests to open new grammar schools were received from each local authority in each year since 1997; what approval is needed from his Department to open a new grammar school; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Since September 1999 one new school, in Buckinghamshire, has been designated as a grammar school. The school opened in September 1999 and was established in substitution for a closing grammar school. Information held on proposals to establish new schools made prior to September 1999 is not reliable and has therefore not been included.
	Section 104 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 provides that no new additional grammar schools may be established. There are 164 designated grammar schools, and this number has remained constant since 1999. Section 104 provides that a new school may be designated as a grammar school only if it is established in substitution for a closing grammar school or schools.

Home Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will issue new guidelines for local authorities on home education.

Jim Knight: We issued guidelines for local authorities on elective home education on 29 November 2007. A copy of the guidelines has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

International Baccalaureate

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many local authorities have one or more mainstream institutions offering the international baccalaureate.

Jim Knight: There are currently 61 maintained schools and colleges in England that are accredited to offer the international baccalaureate, based in 47 local authorities.

Languages: Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government have taken to improve standards of foreign language education in schools since 1997.

Jim Knight: holding answer 18 December 2007
	As the hon. Gentleman will be aware from my answer of 8 November, in 2002 the Government published the National Languages Strategy, with the overarching objective of improving the teaching and learning of languages across all phases of education. The Languages review, chaired by Lord Bearing and Lid King, the National Director of Languages, progressed this process further.
	We have taken a number of steps to improve standards of foreign language education. This week we have confirmed in the Children's Plan that the review of the primary curriculum will examine how best to introduce languages as a compulsory subject in primary schools, which will include how standards can be assessed.
	Standards in languages at key stage 3 are rising faster than in any other subject. The proportion of pupils achieving level 5 and above rose from 54 per cent. to 58 per cent. between 2006 and 2007, while the figure for those who achieved level 6 or above rose from 22 per cent. to 25 per cent. This improvement has been supported by the development of Strategic Learning Networks, enabling language teachers to work together and share good practice. The revised key stage 3 curriculum will be more relevant and engaging for young people and should continue this improvement in standards. Specialist language colleges receive additional money for outreach work with local schools, which can be used to improve standards at key stage 4.
	The proportion of those pupils achieving an A*-C grade in a GCSE language subject has increased from 48 per cent. in 1997 to 66 per cent. in 2007.
	The Languages Ladder/Asset Languages Scheme, introduced in 2005, complements existing qualifications and allows learners to progress at their own pace in one or more of the four language skills—speaking, listening, reading and writing. This allows pupils who may not previously have achieved a languages qualification to have their achievement recognised.
	Finally, we have announced the development of a new diploma in languages to be introduced from 2011.

Languages: GCE A-Level

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will require all maintained schools and colleges with sixth forms to offer modern languages to A-level; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We have no plans to do so. Choice of which subjects to offer at A-level is a matter for schools to determine. We were pleased to see a small increase in the number of pupils studying languages at A-level in 2007. This shows that young people choosing to learn languages at GCSE are enthusiastic language learners who are more likely to continue learning post-16.

Literacy: Teaching Methods

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent guidance has been given to schools on the use of synthetic phonics; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The strong emphasis we have placed on the use of systematic phonics through the renewed Primary Framework is supported by a range of guidance and training.
	We have provided Letters and Sounds, a high quality phonics training manual developed by the Primary National Strategy with support from Jim Rose, free to all primary schools. To help schools implement this we have provided, and continue to provide, training and guidance to local authorities for dissemination to schools.
	Through the Communication, Language and Literacy Development Programme we provide guidance for all those involved in early literacy development: teachers, teaching assistants, head teachers and LA staff. In addition to training and guidance we provide a dedicated site which addresses the key aspects of quality first teaching of early reading.
	As part of consolidating a firm understanding of the principles which underpin excellent phonic work we have determined a set of core criteria that define the key features of an effective systematic phonics teaching programme. These build directly on Sir Jim Rose's recommendations for
	'high quality phonic work'.
	These, together with notes of guidance on how to apply them, are contained within Letters and Sounds and can also be accessed through our dedicated phonics site which provides an additional source of advice and information for schools and settings to draw on.

Literacy: Teaching Methods

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidelines he has issued to Ofsted on monitoring the implementation of the recommendations of the Rose review.

Jim Knight: The Department has not issued guidelines to Ofsted on this matter. It has however asked Ofsted to conduct reviews of both early reading provision in schools, and its coverage as part of initial teacher training. These are expected to take place in the coming year.

Lord Adonis

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether Lord Adonis attended the academies seminar on 1 November 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The seminar on 1 November was attended by a number of officials and a range of stakeholders in the academies programme. No Ministers attended this meeting.

Mandarin: Teachers

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers with a language specialism in Mandarin Chinese qualified in the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: Data relating to the language specialisms of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) trainees are not collected centrally.
	In 2005/06 there were two postgraduate ITT trainees who gained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and had an undergraduate UK degree in a subject related to Mandarin. One trainee had an undergraduate degree in applied languages and the other in Chinese (modern).
	There are currently no ITT courses which specialise in Mandarin only.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects to reply to the letter of 16 October 2007 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Cedar Mount High School.

Jim Knight: I apologise that, due to an administrative oversight in the Department, you had not yet received a reply to your letter of 16 October 2007. A reply was sent on 10 December.

Personal Social and Health Education

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of parents who opted their children out of personal social and health education in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of schools which did not include sex and relationships education in their personal social and health education curriculum in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many  (a) school nurses and  (b) school nurses who teach sex and relationships education in schools there were in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: holding answer 17 December 2007
	The Department does not collect data on the number of pupils withdrawn from personal, social and health education (PSHE). However, Ofsted's survey on SRE published in 2002 found that only 0.04 per cent. of pupils were withdrawn from the non-statutory aspects of SRE normally delivered through PSHE.
	Similarly, the Department does not collect data or the number of schools who include SRE within PSHE, but departmental guidance on SRE (DfES, 2000) makes clear that schools should embed SRE within their programmes for PSHE.
	In 2006 there were 1,129 school nurses with a school nurse qualification (an increase of 31.9 per cent. since 2004). Their involvement in the delivery of SRE is a decision for primary care trusts and individual schools. The Department recognises the unique contribution that school nurses make to SRE and encourages all those involved in classroom delivery to undertake the National PSHE: Continuing Professional Development Programme. This accredited programme supports standards in the delivery of PSHE teaching including sex and relationships education.

Primary Education: Standards

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the levels of numeracy and literacy were among primary school leavers in  (a) Uxbridge constituency,  (b) each London borough and  (c) England in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information required is in the Library.

Primary Education: Standards

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the five  (a) highest and  (b) lowest performing primary schools in England were in each of the last 10 years in terms of (i) Key Stage 2 SAT results and (ii) value-added measures.

Jim Knight: The information required can be found in the achievement and attainment tables held in the House of Commons Library.

Primary Education: Teachers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate his Department has made of the number of additional primary school teachers required in each of the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: This Department is about to complete an exercise to forecast the number of teacher training places that will be needed during the next few years, and I will shortly be notifying these to the Training and Development Agency for Schools to enable it to begin allocating training places.

Primary Education: Teachers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what proportion of primary teacher trainees who gained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) were shown as in service in the database of teacher records at the end of the financial year three years after they gained QTS for each year from 1998;
	(2)  what proportion of secondary teacher trainees, in each subject for which there are initial teacher training targets, who gained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) were shown as in service in the database of teacher records at the end of the financial year three years after they gained QTS for each year from 1998.

Jim Knight: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The following table provides the percentage of full and part-time teachers who entered local authority maintained sector service in England in the year after qualification in March 1998 and 2003 and were still in such service three years later, broken down by primary and for secondary by subject of initial teacher training.
	
		
			  Retention rate of full and part-time teachers who entered local authority maintained( 1 ) sector service in England by the March after the year of their qualification( 2) ,1998 to 2003 and were still in service three years later in 2001 to 2006. 
			   Three year retention rate (percentage) 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005( 3)  2006( 3) 
			 Primary 82 83 80 82 83 83 
			 Mathematics 76 75 78 75 78 79 
			 English 77 76 77 76 79 81 
			 Science 77 73 74 76 79 79 
			 Modern Foreign Languages 72 68 66 72 72 71 
			 Technology 74 80 79 78 84 83 
			 History 83 82 81 79 81 83 
			 Geography 75 80 79 79 82 80 
			 Art 80 72 79 79 80 79 
			 Music 78 73 76 76 79 77 
			 RE 75 76 78 80 77 76 
			 PE 80 83 81 82 86 85 
			 Other 78 77 71 79 79 74 
			 Overall secondary 77 76 76 77 79 80 
			 (1). Excludes Academies and CTCs.  (2.) Includes teachers qualifying through college based routes to qualified teachers status, SCITTs and Open University but excludes employment based routes.  (3) Provisional.   Source:  Database of teacher records 
		
	
	There is also some information available from the Training and Development Agency (TDA) which provides the employment status of teachers six months after obtaining qualified teacher status (QTS). The following tables provide the information for primary schools and secondary schools by subject for each year from 1998-99 to 2005-06.
	
		
			  Mainstream final year primary trainees employment status( 1,2,3) 
			Percentage 
			   Number of final year mainstream primary trainees gaining QTS  Proportion of trainees gaining QTS who are known to enter a teaching post in a maintained school  six  months  Proportion of trainees gaining QTS who are known to enter a teaching post in a school with an unknown sector  six  months after gaining QTS after gaining QTS  Proportion of trainees gaining QTS who have an unknown destination 
			 1998-99 11,740 66 9 11 
			 1999-2000 9,880 74 6 14 
			 2000-01 10,540 73 10 12 
			 2001-02 10,720 74 6 11 
			 2002-03 11,930 69 5 12 
			 2003-04 12,470 67 6 13 
			 2004-05 12,690 70 5 12 
			 2005-06 12,680 70 6 10 
		
	
	
		
			  Mainstream final year secondary trainees employment status1,2,3 
			Percentage 
			  Subject of ITT training  Number of final year mainstream secondary trainees gaining QTS  Proportion of trainees gaining QTS who are known to enter a teaching post in a maintained school six months after gaining QTS  Proportion of trainees gaining QTS who are known to enter a teaching post in a school with an unknown sector six months after gaining QTS  Proportion of trainees gaining QTS who have an unknown destination 
			  1998-99 
			 Mathematics 940 68 11 9 
			 English(4) 1,830 64 12 12 
			 Science 1,910 60 11 11 
			 Modern languages 1,410 58 14 13 
			 Technology 1,360 61 10 14 
			 Design and technology 740 62 12 14 
			 Information and communications technology 250 59 10 15 
			 Business studies 370 60 7 12 
			 History 790 52 14 16 
			 Geography 680 54 10 13 
			 Art and design 810 56 11 15 
			 Music 440 57 14 12 
			 Religious education 530 56 10 12 
			 Physical education 1,340 63 9 11 
			 Other(5) 170 58 12 12 
			 Citizenship — — — — 
			 Total 12,340 60 11 12 
			  
			  1999-2000 
			 Mathematics 1,060 68 10 13 
			 English(4) 1,700 70 8 14 
			 Science 1,940 68 10 13 
			 Modern languages 1,290 63 11 15 
			 Technology 1,360 65 10 16 
			 Design and technology 650 63 13 17 
			 Information and communications technology 310 66 6 18 
			 Business studies 340 70 10 12 
			 History 760 62 10 16 
			 Geography 750 70 7 12 
			 Art and design 700 64 6 18 
			 Music 470 65 12 15 
			 Religious education 450 67 7 16 
			 Physical education 1,150 74 4 12 
			 Other(5) 270 60 12 13 
			 Citizenship — — — — 
			 Total 11,820 67 9 14 
			  
			  2000-01 
			 Mathematics 990 72 10 10 
			 English(4) 1.750 75 7 12 
			 Science 1,940 72 8 12 
			 Modern languages 1,390 69 6 16 
			 Technology 1,400 67 13 12 
			 Design and technology 670 69 13 12 
			 Information and communications technology 400 68 11 12 
			 Business studies 340 60 16 13 
			 History 770 71 9 12 
			 Geography 790 67 11 12 
			 Art and design 670 67 7 15 
			 Music 470 66 8 15 
			 Religious education 450 64 12 15 
			 Physical education 1,200 75 7 9 
			 Other(5) 290 64 9 8 
			 Citizenship — — — — 
			 Total 12,100 70 9 12 
			  
			  2001-02 
			 Mathematics 1,090 77 5 9 
			 English(4) 1,800 78 6 10 
			 Science 2,030 77 5 9 
			 Modern languages 1,340 72 4 14 
			 Technology 1,540 73 10 10 
			 Design and technology 690 73 10 11 
			 Information and communications technology 460 76 7 9 
			 Business studies 400 71 13 8 
			 History 790 72 3 15 
			 Geography 810 72 4 13 
			 Art and design 630 71 4 16 
			 Music 470 76 4 10 
			 Religious education 440 71 5 13 
			 Physical education 1,270 79 4 7 
			 Other(5) 240 68 5 12 
			 Citizenship 130 75 6 9 
			 Total 12,550 75 5 11 
			  
			  2002-03 
			 Mathematics 1,270 72 4 13 
			 English(4) 2,070 74 5 13 
			 Science 2,140 71 5 12 
			 Modern languages 1,350 62 6 17 
			 Technology 1,850 77 6 8 
			 Design and technology 740 77 5 11 
			 Information and communications technology 620 76 6 9 
			 Business studies 490 78 6 5 
			 History 840 67 6 13 
			 Geography 800 70 6 14 
			 Art and design 720 66 8 15 
			 Music 460 65 9 17 
			 Religious education 440 67 6 12 
			 Physical education 1,180 79 3 8 
			 Other(5) 210 44 6 32 
			 Citizenship 180 65 11 15 
			 Total 13,490 71 6 13 
			  
			  2003-04 
			 Mathematics 1,520 74 6 10 
			 English(4) 2,170 72 7 11 
			 Science 2,310 72 6 10 
			 Modern languages 1,450 64 8 14 
			 Technology 2,060 72 6 13 
			 Design and technology 830 74 6 13 
			 Information and communications technology 750 73 6 13 
			 Business studies 470 68 9 14 
			 History 850 69 6 9 
			 Geography 850 71 7 8 
			 Art and design 810 69 8 10 
			 Music 510 71 8 11 
			 Religious education 460 69 5 11 
			 Physical education 1,390 78 4 6 
			 Other(5) 280 66 11 8 
			 Citizenship 0 78 8 9 
			 Total 14,860 71 6 10 
			  
			  2004-05 
			 Mathematics 1,570 74 4 10 
			 English(4) 2,050 78 5 9 
			 Science 2,230 73 5 10 
			 Modern languages 1,360 60 6 13 
			 Technology 2,070 73 6 11 
			 Design and technology 800 75 5 11 
			 Information and communications technology 750 72 6 14 
			 Business studies 520 72 8 7 
			 History 830 75 4 9 
			 Geography 810 70 7 9 
			 Art and design 670 69 6 11 
			 Music 500 72 6 9 
			 Religious education 470 77 3 9 
			 Physical education 1,330 75 5 10 
			 Other(5) 370 69 8 10 
			 Citizenship 220 67 5 19 
			 Total 14,460 72 5 10 
			  
			  2005-06 
			 Mathematics 1,550 73 4 8 
			 English(4) 2,000 77 5 8 
			 Science 2,410 71 6 9 
			 Modern languages 1,260 60 6 13 
			 Technology 1,950 73 6 8 
			 Design and technology 720 78 5 8 
			 Information and communications technology 750 71 8 11 
			 Business studies 490 71 5 5 
			 History 780 70 7 6 
			 Geography 750 71 6 6 
			 Art and design 620 68 6 9 
			 Music 560 70 6 10 
			 Religious education 520 69 10 8 
			 Physical education 1,270 79 6 6 
			 Other(5) 930 66 11 10 
			 Citizenship 190 75 6 13 
			 Total 14,420 72 6 8 
			 (1) Includes trainees from universities and other higher education (HE) institutions, school centred initial teacher training (SCITT) and open universities (OU), but exclude employment based routes (EBR).  (2) Employment information is not collected for trainees who enter ITT through employment based routes  (3) Numbers are individually rounded to the nearest 10.  (4) English includes dance and drama.  (5) Other includes classics, economics, social studies, vocational subjects (from 2003/04 onwards) and assessment only records (in 2005-06)   Source:  TDA performance profiles

Pupils: English Language

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children of school age there are who are bilingual learners or have English as a second language, in each local authority.

Jim Knight: holding answer 17 December 2007
	 The available information has been placed in the Library. This can be found in SFR 30/2007 "Schools and Pupils in England: January 2007 (Final)" which is available on the Department's website here:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000744/index.shtml
	The table shows pupils by first language status; information on bilingual learners is not collected.

Pupils: Sight Impaired

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in what formats educational material for visually impaired and dyslexic children are provided by his Department; how much has been allocated for provision of such material; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Local authorities and schools are funded to provide services for children with special educational needs (SEN). It is for local authorities and schools to determine how best to use resources to overcome barriers to achievement—including the provision of educational material in alternative formats where that is appropriate. The Education Act 1996 requires local authorities, schools and early years settings to have regard to the SEN Code of Practice which provides advice on carrying out statutory duties to identify, assess and make provision for pupils' special educational needs.
	Part 4 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 requires schools and local authorities to plan to improve access to the curriculum and written materials for disabled pupils over time. In addition, the new Disability Equality Duty introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 requires all public bodies including schools and local authorities to promote disability equality more widely.
	The Department does not generally provide educational materials to children. However, we are currently working with a range of stakeholders including the RNIB and British Dyslexia Association, to look at ways of improving the provision of books and educational material in accessible formats.

School Leaving: Newcastle

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make an assessment of the likely costs to the Newcastle local education authority of raising the school leaving age to 18.

Jim Knight: The estimated costs of raising the participation age were set out in the regulatory impact assessment (RIA) published alongside the Education and Skills Bill on 29 November 2007. Costs were projected to be around £800 million per cohort of young people but the economic benefits were estimated to be around £2,400 million on the same basis.
	The RIA can be accessed at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/publications/educationandskills/
	and I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.
	The Department has not made detailed economic projections at a local level. Demographic changes will vary between local areas, of course, as will the nature of demand from young people, and local authorities will need to use their own projections to plan accordingly.
	The proposed legislation is for the education and training leaving age, not the school leaving age, to be raised to 18 years. This will be done in two stages, with the participation age not being raised to 18 until 2015.

Schools

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many competitions for new schools were won by  (a) academies,  (b) local authority schools and  (c) other schools in each month since January 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of competitions won, in each month, by proposals for new academies and schools proposed by local authorities (LAs):
	
		
			  Decision date  Competition  Winning school proposal 
			Academy  LA maintained school 
			 May 2007 Haringey — (1)1 
			 July 2007 Southampton (East) and Southampton (West) 2 — 
			 August 2007 Lincolnshire (Gainsborough) 1 — 
			 (1) Community school. 
		
	
	There were no school competitions decided in 2006. The Lincolnshire and Southampton competitions were decided by the local authorities since they had not entered proposals of their own into the competitions; the Haringey competition was decided by the Schools Adjudicator.
	A further four competitions are currently in progress in Salford, Devon, West Sussex and Cambridgeshire.

Schools: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much deprivation-related funding is allocated to each school in Somerset; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Somerset's total Dedicated Schools Grant allocation for 2007-08 was £253.489 million: the amount of deprivation funding within this was 7.8 per cent. or £19.642 million. Somerset distributed £11.785 million or 60 per cent. of this deprivation funding through its formula on the basis of deprivation factors. Figures for each school in Somerset could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Science: Teachers

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of science teachers in  (a) primary schools and  (b) secondary schools have a GCSE science qualification at grade C or above.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Information on the number of full-time teachers in service in secondary schools by the highest post-A-level qualification in the subject they teach is available from the Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey (SSCSS), an occasional sample survey last conducted in 2002 and 2007. 2007 figures are expected to be published in spring 2008.
	The following table provides the number of teachers teaching each subject area and the level of qualification in that subject in 2002, the latest information available.
	
		
			  Teachers in Service: Full-time teachers in maintained secondary schools—Highest post-A-level qualifications( 1)  held in the subjects they teach( 2)  to year groups 7-13, England 
			   Percentages  
			   Degree( 3)  BEd  PGCE  Cert Ed  Other Qual.  No Qual.  Total teachers (Thousand) 
			 Mathematics 42 ± 3 15 ± 2 9 ± 2 7 ± 1 2 ± 1 24 ± 2 28.2 
			 English 51 ± 3 15 ± 2 7 ± 1 6 ± 1 1 ± 1 20 ± 2 29.4 
			 Combined/General science 62 ± 3 12 ± 2 10 ± 2 4 ± 1 1 ± 1 11 ± 2 28.3 
			 Biology(4) 71 ± 5 7 ± 3 11 ± 4 3 ± 2 - ± 1 7 ± 3 5.6 
			 Chemistry(4) 72 ± 5 6 ± 3 12 ± 4 1 ± 1 1 ± 1 7 ± 3 5.2 
			 Physics(4) 63 ± 6 11 ± 4 15 ± 4 3 ± 2 - ± - 8 ± 3 4.7 
			 Other sciences(4) 10 ± 6 4 ± 4 5 ± 4 - ± - - ± - 80 ± 8 1.6 
			 
			 French 54 ± 3 7 ± 2 10 ± 2 3 ± 1 2 ± 1 23 ± 3 16.0 
			 German 47 ± 5 6 ± 3 13 ± 4 1 ± 1 2 ± 1 30 ± 5 6.9 
			 Spanish 37 ± 7 8 ± 4 19 ± 6 - ± - 3 ± 2 33 ± 7 3.6 
			 Other modern languages 18 ± 8 - ± - 9 ± 7 - ± - 3 ± 4 71 ±10 1.4 
			 
			 Design and technology(5) 26 ± 3 20 ± 3 7 ± 2 21 ± 3 2 ± 1 24 ± 3 20.9 
			 ICT(5, 6) 13 ± 2 6 ± 1 8 ± 2 2 ± 1 3 ± 1 69 ± 3 18.9 
			 Other/Combined technology(5) 30± 1 0 13 ± 8 16 ± 7 18 ± 9 2 ± 3 20 ± 9 1.6 
			 
			 Business studies 30 ± 5 11 ± 4 9 ± 3 4 ± 2 3 ± 2 43 ± 5 6.5 
			 Classics 33 ± 7 - ± - 2 ± 4 2 ± - - ± - 63 ± 7 1.0 
			 History 57 ± 4 9 ± 2 6 ± 2 6 ± 2 - ± - 23 ± 3 13.7 
			 Religious education 22 ± 3 8 ± 2 8 ± 2 4 ± 1 2 ± 1 57 ± 4 14.2 
			 Geography 53 ± 4 9 ± 2 6 ± 2 5 ± 2 1 ± 1 25 ± 3 13.7 
			 Other social studies 35 ± 5 6 ± 3 2 ± 2 2 ± 1 - ± 1 54 ± 6 4.9 
			 Combined arts/humanities/ social studies 5 ± 3 4 ± 2 7 ± 3 1 ± 1 1 ± 1 83 ± 5 5.3 
			 
			 Music 59 ± 5 15 ± 4 5 ± 2 6 ± 3 2 ± 2 13 ± 4 6.3 
			 Drama 25 ± 4 10 ± 3 12 ± 3 6 ± 2 2 ± 1 45 ± 5 8.1 
			 Art and design 54 ± 4 10 ± 3 7 ± 2 9 ± 3 1 ± 1 20 ± 4 9.3 
			 Physical education 25 ± 3 31 ± 3 6 ± 2 13 ± 2 2 ± 1 22 ± 2 21.4 
			 Careers education 2 ± 2 1 ± 2 3 ± 3 4 ± 4 3 ± 4 87 ± 7 1.5 
			 PSHE(6) 1 ± - 1 ± - 2 ± 1 1 ± - - ± - 95 ± 1 61.4 
			 General studies 1 ± 1 2 ± 1 1 ± 1 - ± 1 - ± - 95 ± 2 7.1 
			 Citizenship 2 ± 1 1 ± 1 2 ± 1 - ± 1 - ± - 94 ± 2 9.0 
			 Other — — — — — — 32.8 
			 
			 Total(2, 7) 33 ± - 10 ±- 7 ± - 5 ± - 1 ± - 44 ± - 388.4 
			 '-' = zero or less than 0.5. (1) Where a teacher has more than one post-A-level qualification in the same subject, the qualification level is determined by the highest level reading from left (Degree) to right (Other Qual.). For example, teachers shown under PGCE have a PGCE but not a degree or BEd in the subject, while those with a PGCE and a degree are shown only under Degree. (2) Teachers are counted once against each subject which they are teaching. (3) Includes higher degrees but excludes BEds. (4) Teachers qualified in combined/general science are treated as qualified to teach biology, chemistry, or physics. Teachers qualified in biology, chemistry or physics are treated as qualified to teach combined/general science. (5) Teachers qualified in other/combined technology are treated as qualified to teach design and technology or information and communication technology. Teachers qualified in design and technology or information and communication technology are treated as qualified to teach other/combined technology. (6) Information and Communication Technology is abbreviated as ICT and Personal Social and Health Education is abbreviated as PSHE. (7) 'Other' not included in total percentages.  Source: Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey 2002.

Specialised Diplomas: Expenditure

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what expenditure from the public purse has been incurred to date by  (a) the Learning and Skills Council,  (b) the sector skills councils,  (c) the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority,  (d) the Gateway process and  (e) his Department on (i) the diploma programme and (ii) individual diplomas.

Jim Knight: Expenditure on (i) the diploma programme by the Learning and Skills Council, the Sector Skills Council, the Qualifications Curriculum Authority, the Gateway process and the Department is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 (30 November) 
			 LSC — — — 
			 Sector Skills Council 1.847 6.217 5.533 
			 QCA 1.14 6. 86 8.76 
			 Development costs . 1.4 2.4 6.54 
		
	
	Expenditure on (ii) individual diplomas (including by the LSC) is zero as participation on diplomas has yet to start.

Teachers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) secondary and  (b) primary Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) teachers were in service at any time during their first three years after gaining QTS in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Vocational Training: Sunderland

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to ensure that residents from the city of Sunderland will have the necessary skills to take advantage of jobs resulting from the Olympics in 2012.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has a joint responsibility with the Department for Work and Pensions to maximise the employment and skills benefits for the UK arising from Games-related business. In the main, this will be achieved using existing initiatives such as Train to Gain, as we help employers in meeting their skill needs to design, build and deliver the Games, and encourage individuals to develop their skills so that they can compete for opportunities and progress within the labour market beyond 2012. To do this, we have initiated a programme of activities which are nation or UK-wide, rather than related to specific cities or regions. On the employer side, two cluster groups of sector skills councils are leading two areas: one to look specifically at the issues relating to the built environment and environmental improvements for the Games; and the other is looking at the staging and legacy aspects of the Games. Other specific employer-led initiatives include a programme of media training placements being developed by Skillset; the national skills strategy for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism in England developed by People 1st; and the National Skills Academy for Construction centre on the Olympic site which the Prime Minister announced on 29 November. For individuals, initiatives include new advanced apprenticeships in sporting excellence; customer service and hospitality apprenticeships; and the LDA-led Personal Best Programme which is currently being piloted in London but will be offered nationally and is targeted at individuals furthest away from the labour market to improve skills and promote employability.
	Within the Sunderland area itself initiatives include promoting business opportunities to Sunderland companies; engaging in discussions regarding the Cultural Olympiad; Sunderland venues registering as possible venues for pre-Games training camps; and Sunderland university has been involved in discussions concerning the north-east's regional cultural volunteering programme. The north-east's plans for the Games also include the development of a sport-related work force and making the most of the opportunities available for the key nine sectors in the regional economic strategy.

Young People: Disadvantaged

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding he plans to allocate to Hertfordshire to assist young people with disadvantaged backgrounds; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Funding for young people with disadvantaged backgrounds is a component of the Dedicated Schools Grant. On 12 November I announced to Parliament the three year school funding settlement for 2008-11. In addition to the existing funding for deprivation in DSG allocations, a new deprivation indicator is being used to fund the Pockets of Deprivation Ministerial Priority. In 2008-09 funding for Hertfordshire is £3,896 per pupil, of which 7.5 per cent., or £292, is for educational disadvantage.
	Further information on the new indicator, the local authority allocations for pockets of deprivation and the overall proportion of each local authority's DSG allocation for deprivation is on the Teachernet website at:
	www.teachernet.gov.uk/dsg200811/

Youth Citizenship Commission

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when the Youth Citizenship Commission referred to in the Governance of Britain Green Paper will be launched; who the members of the commission will be; when he expects the recommendations of the commission to be published; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: We will be making an announcement on the Youth Citizenship Commission in the new year.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether it is her Department's policy to use  (a) incandescent light bulbs and  (b) LED lights for festive decorations on departmental premises;
	(2)  what her Department's policy is on the selection of  (a) real and  (b) artificial Christmas trees for her Department's festive decorations; and how real trees are disposed of.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government provides a real Christmas tree in the reception of its three HQ buildings. The trees are sustainably sourced, whereby for each tree harvested, another is planted. These are decorated using ultra-energy-efficient LED lights. The trees are disposed of sustainably by conversion to wood chips for composting and mulching.

Closed Circuit Television: Planning

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what permitted development rights exist for CCTV cameras  (a) on a fixed pole and  (b) affixed to a building.

Iain Wright: Part 33 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 grants permitted development rights for the installation, alteration or replacement on buildings or other structures (such as walls, fences or poles) of CCTV cameras for security purposes, subject to specified limits on size, numbers and positioning. Part 33 does not apply to listed buildings. Nor does it give permitted development rights to poles or other structures specially constructed to hold cameras.

Community Relations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she has taken to improve community cohesion and integration since 2005.

Parmjit Dhanda: When Communities and Local Government (CLG) was set up in May 2005, policy for community cohesion was one of the areas which transferred to the new Department. Since then, CLG has provided support for local areas experiencing challenges to cohesion and supported the independent Commission for Integration and Cohesion. We announced an initial response to the Commission in October, which included an additional £50 million funding to support local areas work to build cohesion over the next three years. We will announce a full response to the Commission shortly.

Community Relations: Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to improve community cohesion in West Chelmsford constituency.

Parmjit Dhanda: Both "Strong and Prosperous Communities" the Local Government White Paper and the Government's initial response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion's final report, "Our Shared Future", recognise the need to respond to the community cohesion challenge faced by increasing change in local communities.
	In the 2006 Best Value Survey West Chelmsford scored above the national average on the measure for cohesion ("the percentage of residents who agree that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together"). The Department for Communities and Local Government is not undertaking specific cohesion work with West Chelmsford.
	However within the new performance framework for local authorities and local authority partnerships there are mechanisms to monitor progress against the new single set of national indicators which includes indicators of community cohesion, and the new local area agreements offer the opportunity to identify priority improvement targets.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of posts in her Department were recategorised from back office to frontline posts as classified by the Gershon efficiency review in each year since 2004.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Communities and Local Government is committed to achieving work force reductions of 400 full-time equivalents by the end of 2007-08. This is a net target and no posts will be reallocated to the frontline as part of it.

Empty Property

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes she is making to the requirement for local authorities to have a register of empty homes returned to use.

Iain Wright: There is no statutory requirement on local authorities to hold a register of empty homes returned to use. However, local authorities are expected to take measures to reduce the number of homes that are left empty for long periods of time as part of their strategic housing role. Local authorities may therefore choose to keep information about empty homes in their area in the form of a register if this helps to facilitate their strategic approach.

English National Land Use Database

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many hectares of derelict land are recorded on the English National Land Use Database, broken down by government office region.

Iain Wright: In 2006, the latest year for which figures are available, there were an estimated 17,850 hectares of derelict land and buildings in England. This is broken down by region as follows:
	
		
			  Region  Hectares 
			 North East 1,130 
			 North West 4,970 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 2,920 
			 East Midlands 1,790 
			 West Midlands 2,070 
			 East of England 1,970 
			 London 250 
			 South East 1,260 
			 South West 1,490 
			   
			 England 17,850

English Partnerships: Expenditure

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much English Partnerships has spent since its establishment in each parliamentary constituency in England.

Iain Wright: English Partnerships' expenditure is not available at parliamentary constituency level as it records most of its expenditure by individual local authority. A breakdown of English Partnerships' spend in each local authority area since 2001-02 has been deposited in the Library of the House. Due to organisational changes, data prior to 2001 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	As some expenditure is incurred at national level, a figure for national spend is included for completeness. This covers national investment in financial vehicles like the English Cities Fund, Priority Sites Ltd. and Networkspace; the purchase of national portfolios of land such as that from the NHS in 2005; and research.

Environment Protection: EU Law

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to amend legislation to meet the requirements of the EU Directive on Environmental Impact Assessments.

Iain Wright: The Town and Country (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (SI No. 293) (the 1999 Regulations) are the principal regulations which apply environmental impact assessment (EIA) to development proposals. On 15 November 2000 they were amended to apply EIA to applications for review of conditions attached to mineral planning permissions.
	We are currently planning to make two further amendments to the 1999 Regulations. The first will allow EIA to be applied at the reserved matters stage following the grant of outline planning permission
	The second amendment will apply the requirements of the 1999 Regulations, as amended in 2000, to the few outstanding applications for initial review of old mineral permissions which pre-date 15 November 2000 and which are stalled because information to enable EIA to be carried out has not been provided. The effect of the new Regulations will be to allow new conditions to be attached to permissions to mitigate the environmental impact of mineral operations.

Fires: Chemicals

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what instructions were given by her Department's staff at the oxyacetylene fire incident on the A12 at Eight Ash Green on Friday 5 October 2007; whether her Department received any requests for the penetration of the oxyacetylene cylinder by high velocity rifle round; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: No instructions were given by Communities and Local Government (CLG) staff with regard to the oxyacetylene incident on the A12.
	CLG did not receive any requests for the penetration of the oxyacetylene cylinder by high velocity rifle round.

Fires: Chemicals

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fire-fighters have been  (a) killed and  (b) injured by explosions caused by oxyacetylene cylinders in the last 10 years.

Parmjit Dhanda: There have been no recorded deaths or injuries of firefighters following explosions of an acetylene cylinder in the last 10 years.

Fires: Chemicals

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on which occasions trunk road motorway or rail closures of more than three hours have been caused by fires involving oxyacetylene since such fires began to be recorded as fires of special interest; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Floods: Maps

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information the Ordnance Survey's Mastermap product holds on the flood risk of individual properties.

Iain Wright: None.
	However a combination of OS Mastermap datasets such as topography, address and height data may be used by others, in combination with specialist information from other sources, to model flood risks down to individual properties.

Green Belt

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 9 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 563-4W, on green belt, what the loss in hectares of designated green belt was in each Government office region in each year since 1997 for which data are available, excluding additions to the green belt in the same period.

Iain Wright: The gross change in the number of hectares of green belt land that had green belt designation removed is not held centrally. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Housing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) proportion and  (b) number of first time buyers in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) England and Wales purchased properties in the three or four per cent. stamp duty band in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: Data on first time buyers (FTBs) using a mortgage in the UK are available from the Regulated Mortgage Survey which is supplied to Communities and Local Government by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The survey is a sample so data on the total number of FTBs are unavailable.
	However the Council of Mortgage Lenders publishes figures on the total number of FTBs in the UK, but not for England and Wales. In order to estimate numbers of FTBs in the UK in each stamp duty bracket proportions calculated from the Regulated Mortgage Survey have been applied to the published figure of FTBs in the UK.
	The number and proportion of first time buyers in the UK that purchased properties in the 3 and 4 per cent. stamp duty bands during 2006 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number and proportion of first time buyers that purchased properties in the 3 or 4 per cent. stamp duty bands during 2006, UK 
			   3 per cent. stamp duty band  4 per cent. stamp duty band  3 or 4 per cent. stamp duty bands 
			 Number 23,435 2,831 26,266 
			 Percentage 5.8 0.7 6.5 
			  Source: Regulated Mortgage Survey and Council of Mortgage Lenders 
		
	
	As information on the total number of FTBs in England and Wales is not available, only the proportions in each stamp duty band can be derived from the Regulated Mortgage Survey.
	The proportion of first time buyers in England and Wales that purchased properties in the 3 and 4 per cent. stamp duty bands is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportion of first time buyers that purchased properties in the 3 or 4 per cent. stamp duty bands during 2006, England and Wales 
			   Percentage 
			 3 per cent. stamp duty band 6.3 
			 4 per cent. stamp duty band 0.8 
			 3 or 4 per cent. stamp duty bands 7.1 
			  Source: Regulated Mortgage Survey

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment her Department has made of the range of the additional build costs of a zero carbon home in addition to Part L of the 2006 building regulations.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 545W and to the answer given to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) on 8 October 2007,  Official Report, column 35W.

Housing: Cleethorpes

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many houses in multiple occupancy there were in Cleethorpes constituency in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: The Department does not hold this information.

Housing: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what central Government public expenditure on housing was in each year since 1996-97; and what the forecast levels are for each of the next three years.

Iain Wright: Data on public expenditure by function are published annually in 'Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses'. The latest edition was published in April 2007 (Cm 7091) and includes data for years up to and including 2007-08. Spending plans for the three years 2008-09 to 2010-11 were published in 'Meeting the Aspirations of the British People: 2007 Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review' (Cm 7227). Annex D5 includes details of the Government's housing plans.

Housing: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the planned expenditure is on the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder Scheme in each of the next three years.

Iain Wright: The Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder Schemes submitted business plans in November 2007 for the period 2008-11. Ministers are currently considering these business plans and will announce specific funding allocations in the next few weeks. Total funding for the Housing Market Renewal programme for 2008-11 will be around £1 billion.

Housing: Low Incomes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's definition is of affordable housing; and what changes have been made to the definition since May 1997.

Iain Wright: Affordable housing is defined in detail in Planning Policy Statement 3 Annex B. In essence it includes social rented and intermediate units provided to households whose needs are not met by the market. This excludes 'low cost market' housing—for example, homes which do not remain affordable on resale.
	The new definition was adopted because Government wished to ensure that developer contributions are used to help provide genuinely affordable housing for households in need over the long term.

Housing: Parking

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the recommended maximum limit is on the number of parking spaces for new residential developments, following the publication of Planning Policy Statement 3.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 December 2007,  Official Report, column 900W.

Housing: Prices

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the average price was of a property purchased by a first time buyer in England in  (a) 1996-97 and  (b) the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average price was of a property purchased by a first time buyer in each local authority area in England in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: Using data from the Regulated Mortgage Survey, the mix-adjusted average price of a property purchased by a first time buyer in 1997 for England was £58,391.
	The mix-adjusted average price of a property purchased by a first time buyer for England in 2006, the last full-year for which data are available, was £155,089.
	The mix-adjusted average price of a property purchased by a first time buyer in Q3 2007, the latest period available for England, was £173,134.

Influenza

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have made a contingency plan for responding to a influenza pandemic.

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government do not formally collect information on the emergency plans and business continuity arrangements maintained by individual local authorities.
	Part 1 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 establishes a statutory framework for civil protection activity at the local level. Under this legislation, all principal local authorities are required to maintain emergency plans and business continuity arrangements, informed by risk assessments, to ensure that they can mobilise an effective emergency response, and are able to continue to exercise their other functions during a full range of emergencies, including health emergencies. The legislation also requires local authorities and other key partners to exercise these plans. The performance of English local authorities against the duties set out in the Act is assessed by the Audit Commission as part of the comprehensive performance assessment.

Law and Order: Antisocial Behaviour

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the enforcement of the Government's antisocial behaviour legislation in problem areas; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	The Home Office is responsible for policy on tackling antisocial behaviour. Earlier this year a survey of 1,000 practitioners was conducted to assess the impact of the Respect programme on local communities. The outcome was that:
	92 per cent. of practitioners felt more was being done in their areas to tackle ASB compared with three years ago;
	79 per cent. had the backing of their community in tackling antisocial behaviour;
	73 per cent. felt the right kinds of tools and powers were available to them to tackle antisocial behaviour, and;
	41 per cent. felt that better partnership/multi-agency approaches have made a difference in tackling antisocial behaviour.
	We have appointed IPSOS Mori to undertake a qualitative study investigating the circumstances in which different antisocial behaviour interventions are most effective. The outcome is to be published in 2008. In the meantime three independent reports have confirmed our approach to tackling antisocial behaviour is working. These were the Home Affairs Select Committee report (2005), the Audit Commission report (May 2006) and the NAO report (December 2006).

Local Authorities: Standards

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) targets and  (b) performance indicators (i) English Partnerships and (ii) its successor agency is developing for local authorities.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 684-85W.

Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes the Government have made to the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme since its introduction; and what further changes her Department is planning.

John Healey: The Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme was announced in the 2002 pre-Budget report and introduced in 2005-06, to reward local authorities for increasing their business rateable value base. The scheme was simplified in its second year by removing the ceiling on payments to local authorities.
	A further change was made during 2007, in response to a challenge to the scheme under Judicial Review. As a result, additional year 1 and 2 payments were made to eligible local authorities in September 2007. These payments reflected increases in rateable value attributable to business expansion.
	Following further consideration of the new legal challenges that have been made against the current Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme and the inherent uncertainty that this causes to the remaining LABGI pot, the Government are today drawing local authorities' attention to their intention to re-consider all aspects of the approach used to distribute the remaining resources available for year 3 of the LABGI Scheme.
	It should also be noted that the sum total of remaining LABGI resources available for distribution will be dependent on the amounts that may be required to meet any potential consequences arising from the court's decisions on the legal challenges for years 1 and 2 of the LABGI Scheme.
	A further announcement will be made shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many letters her Department received from hon. Members and Peers in each session of Parliament since 1997.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. Information relating to 2007 will be published as soon as it has been collated. The report for 2006 was published on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 101-04WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.

National Identity Register

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans her Department has to make use of data on the national identity register when it is established; and what the estimated annual cost to her Department of that use is.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government will be working with the Home Office prior to the introduction of the national identity scheme to establish how identity information held on the proposed national identity register might be used to provide easier access to services. It is too early in the process to establish the detailed costs and benefits.

Planning Permission: Aerials

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will end the practice of deemed planning consent for mobile telephone masts where telecommunications companies do not receive any notification.

Iain Wright: We are currently reviewing the planning regulations governing the installation of mobile telephone masts contained in part 24 of schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended). The prior approval process, to which the hon. Member refers, is being considered as part of that review. Should our review result in any substantive proposals for change we will consult publicly on any options.

Planning: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department and its predecessor spent on research, consultancy and preparation costs for planning gains supplement.

Iain Wright: The Department has undertaken preliminary work to develop and explore the feasibility of a planning-gain supplement since 2004. This has included the publication of one consultation document alongside the 2006 pre-Budget report. The costs incurred have been borne by the Department as part of the normal policy development process.

Population: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the density of population in the Borough of Tamworth, excluding the flood plain area, is expressed in acres per 100,000 people.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what the density of population in the Borough of Tamworth, excluding the flood plain area, is expressed in acres per 100,000 people (174713).
	ONS does not have population density figures for the borough of Tamworth, excluding the flood plain area. However, population density figures for Tamworth Local authority are available expressed as persons per square kilometre. In mid-2006 the estimated population density for Tamworth local authority is 2,445 persons per square kilometre. These are the latest population density figures available.

Property: Databases

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of billing authorities have established a regularly-maintained link from their Local Land and Property Gazetteer to the National Land and Property Gazetteer.

Iain Wright: The National Land and Property Gazetteer is the responsibility of local government's Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and information on this is not held by central Government. Further information on the National Land and Property Gazetteer can be found on the internet at:
	www.nlpg.org.uk

Schools: Finance

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether funds raised by the Milton Keynes tariff on developers and landowners may be used for the capital funding of new schools.

Parmjit Dhanda: Yes, the Milton Keynes Tariff makes a significant contribution towards the capital cost of new schools for the expansion areas in Milton Keynes and requires free land to be provided by the developers for school sites in these areas.
	The precise amounts towards each school are set out in the Milton Keynes Partnership Committee annual business plan which also details other funding sources.

HOME DEPARTMENT

101 Calls

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library copies of letters sent by her Department to Northumbria police authority on the new 101 pilots.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 26 November 2007
	The letters have now been placed in the House Library.

101 Calls

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate has been made by her Department of the level of funding required to roll out each of the 101 non-emergency number pilots under the second wave of the pilot project; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Government decided not to proceed with the roll out of the second wave of the 101 single non-emergency number service in October 2006 pending further evaluation of the costs and benefits of the service in the existing five areas. The level of funding requested by each of the potential second wave areas to implement the 101 service was set out in proposals submitted by each police and council partnership at that time and was as follows:
	
		
			   Partnership proposed implementation cost (£000) 
			 Kent 2,635 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,193 
			 South Yorkshire 2,523 
			 Dorset 1,530 
			 London 10,601 
			 Wiltshire 2,000 
			 Lincolnshire 1,842 
			 Leicestershire 1,972 
			 Lancashire 2,525 
			 Surrey 2,021 
			 Cumbria 1,400 
			 Essex 3,598 
			 Wales 3,428 
			 Hertfordshire 2,250 
			 Total 40,518

101 Calls

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been committed by her Department for maintaining the national 101 telephony infrastructure; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office has committed £1 million per annum over the next CSR period to maintain the national 101 telephony infrastructure enabling local areas to maintain or develop their own locally funded 101 service.

101 Calls

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been allocated by her Department for each 101 non-emergency number pilot in each month since their initiation, broken down by relevant police force area; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: From initiation to the current financial quarter, the Home Office has allocated the following funding amounts as agreed with each 101 partnership area to meet their specific implementation and operation requirements (allocations are based on those costs scheduled to be claimed for the periods set out rather than by each month):
	
		
			  £ 
			  Police force area  31 December 2005 to 31 March 2006  1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007  1 April 2007 to 31 December 2007 
			 Northumbria 958,300 2,481,133 841,323 
			 South Yorkshire 403,798 1,343,899 744,437 
			 Hampshire 1,633,500 1,068,567 1,147,424 
			 Leicestershire 568,491 2,230,389 1,443,206 
			 South Wales 1,065,221 2,568,124 1,977,420

101 Calls

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost of the non-emergency 101 telephone number pilots was.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 27 November 2007,  Official Report, column 362W, to the hon. Member for Hornchurch (James Brokenshire).

101 Calls

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many calls there have been to the new 101 service in each of the local authority areas in the Northumbria Police Authority area  (a) in total and  (b) per head of population.

Tony McNulty: As of 7 November 2007 there have been a total number of 248,949 calls made from the public to the 101 service in the Northumbria police authority area since the service was launched on 3 July 2006. From incident data created as a result of these calls, it is estimated that  (a) the number of calls in total and  (b) the number of calls expressed as a percentage of the population calling on an annualised basis in each of local authority areas in the Northumbria police authority area are as follows:
	
		
			  Local authority area  Estimated number of calls received by Northumbria 101 for each LA area since launch  Estimated percentage of population (2001 Census) calling 101 on annual basis 
			 Alnwick 2,441 5.76 
			 Berwick-Upon-Tweed 1,986 5.61 
			 Blyth Valley 16,834 15.18 
			 Castle Morpeth 5,266 7.87 
			 Gateshead 32,631 12.51 
			 Newcastle City 57,645 16.28 
			 North Tyneside 34,815 13.31 
			 South Tyneside 27,951 13.41 
			 Sunderland 49,102 12.82 
			 Tynedale 3,648 4.55 
			 Wansbeck 16,631 19.94

Airwave Radio System

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if she will write to the Mayor of London and the Metropolitan Police Authority urging them to agree protocols with non-Home Office constabularies in London to allow them to access the Airwave Radio System;
	(2)  what guidance her Department has issued to chief officers of police with regard to making the Airwave Radio System available to non-Home Office constabularies; and if she will list those non-Home Office police organisations which  (a) do and  (b) do not have access to the Airwave Radio System.

Tony McNulty: For a non-Home Office police force to gain access to the Airwave Radio System, they must make an application to the Office of Communications (Ofcom). If this is granted, the force concerned would then be in a position to communicate with the emergency services that also use the network.
	The relevant local Home Office police force would then determine how they need to interoperate, basing this decision on national security assurance standards.
	Non-Home Office police organisations that do have access to the Airwave Radio System are:
	British Transport Police
	Civil Nuclear Constabulary
	Dover Port Police
	Haringey Borough Parks Police
	IPCC
	Ministry of Defence Police
	Scottish Police Forces
	Scottish Police Services Authority
	A comprehensive list of those non-Home Office police organisations without access to the Airwave Radio System is not available.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional money has been made available to the police in the last 12 months for tackling alcohol-related crime in addition to alcohol misuse enforcement campaigns.

Vernon Coaker: In the past 12 months over £1,000,000 has been made available to the police in England and Wales for tackling alcohol-related crime.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much additional funding has been made available to each police force specifically to tackle binge drinking and alcohol misuse in each year since the Licensing Act 2003 came into force.

Vernon Coaker: The Licensing Act 2003 came into force 24 November 2005. Since that time over £5.3 million has been made available to the police to tackle alcohol misuse.
	Home Office alcohol enforcement campaigns are focused at the police basic command unit level. The allocation of funding from campaigns is based on a formal bid process and the number of operations conducted in any given campaign.

Animal Experiments: Scotland

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what proportion of the regulated procedures conducted in Scotland in 2006 under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were performed in  (a) public health authorities,  (b) universities and medical schools,  (c) NHS hospitals,  (d) Government Departments,  (e) other public bodies,  (f) non-profit making organisations and  (g) commercial organisations;
	(2)  what proportion of the regulated procedures conducted in Scotland in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006 under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were carried out for (i) fundamental and applied studies other than toxicology and (ii) toxicity tests or other safety efficacy evaluation;
	(3)  how many  (a) mice,  (b) rats,  (c) guinea pigs,  (d) hamsters,  (e) rabbits,  (f) horses and other equids,  (g) sheep,  (h) pigs,  (i) birds,  (j) amphibians,  (k) reptiles,  (l) fish,  (m) cats,  (n) dogs,  (o) New World primates and  (p) Old World primates were used in regulated procedures conducted in Scotland under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2006;
	(4)  what proportion of the project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 that were in force in Scotland at the end of 2006 were in  (a) mild,  (b) moderate,  (c) substantial and  (d) unclassified severity bandings;
	(5)  how many of the regulated procedures conducted in Scotland in 2006 under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 involved  (a) cats,  (b) dogs,  (c) rabbits,  (d) horses and other equids,  (e) New World primates and  (f) Old World primates.

Meg Hillier: Comprehensive statistics of scientific procedures on living animals in Great Britain carried out under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are published annually. Copies of the publication for 2006 (Cm 7153) can be found in the House Library.
	The data are not collected, stored or presented in a way enabling them to be easily broken down between England, Wales and Scotland as the 1986 Act is administered by the Home Office for the whole of Great Britain (it is administered separately in Northern Ireland). However a special exercise has been undertaken to extract the information requested in relation to Scotland.
	During 2006, in Scotland, universities and medical schools carried out 74 per cent. of the regulated procedures under the 1986 Act, Government Departments 1 per cent., other public bodies 16 per cent. and commercial organisations 9 per cent. Public health laboratories, NHS hospitals and non-profit making organisations did not carry out any regulated procedures.
	During 2005, in Scotland, 83 per cent. of the regulated procedures under the 1986 Act were carried out for fundamental and applied studies other than toxicology and 17 per cent for toxicity tests or other safety efficacy evaluation. During 2006, in Scotland, 81 per cent. of the regulated procedures under the 1986 Act were carried out for fundamental and applied studies other than toxicology and 19 per cent. for toxicity tests or other safety efficacy evaluation.
	During 2006, in Scotland, there were 239,593 mice, 48,519 rats, 1,915 guinea pigs, 711 hamsters, 2,625 rabbits, 211 horses and other equids, 10,573 sheep, 1,012 pigs, 10,680 birds, 336 amphibians, 73,548 fish, 31 cats, 886 dogs, 134 new world primates and 725 old world primates used in regulated procedures under the 1986 Act. No reptiles were used.
	In Scotland, at the end of 2006, 37 per cent. of the project licences granted under the 1986 Act that were in force were in the mild severity banding, 59 per cent. in moderate, 2 per cent. in substantial banding and 2 per cent. were in the unclassified severity banding.
	During 2006, in Scotland, there were 31 regulated procedures under the 1986 Act using cats, 1,252 using dogs, 6,151 using rabbits, 2,490 using horses and other equids, 163 using new world primates and 1,103 using old world primates.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the rate of breach of antisocial behaviour orders in 2006 will be published.

Vernon Coaker: The latest data on breach of antisocial behaviour orders are due to be published in spring 2008.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in  (a) the city of Sunderland and  (b) the north east in each year since 2001.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is provided in the following tables.
	
		
			  N umber of ASBOs issued at all courts, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, by period and where restrictions are imposed within the local authority area of the city of Sunderland, up to 31 December 2005 
			  1 January to 31 December each year  City of Sunderland 
			 2001-01 — 
			 2002-02 2 
			 2003-03 6 
			 2004-04 18 
			 2005-05 43 
			 2001-05 69 
			  Notes:  1. This local authority area table differs from criminal justice system area (cjsa) tables in that an issuing court can be outside the area in which the restrictions have been imposed. For example, an issuing court may be in Hampshire (cjsa) but restrictions apply solely to a local authority area within Dorset. 2. Previously issued data have been revised following joint Home Office/Court Service data reconciliation exercises. 3. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: RDS-OCJR 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of antisocial behaviour orders issued at all courts, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, in the north east region by year, January 2001 to December 2005 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  Total 
			 North east region 22 29 55 133 260 499 
			  Of  which:   
			 Cleveland 4 5 14 28 60 111 
			 Durham 9 8 16 31 27 91 
			 Northumbria 9 16 25 74 173 297 
			  Notes:  1. Previously issued data have been revised following joint Home Office/Court Service data reconciliation exercises. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Lincolnshire

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in  (a) Cleethorpes constituency and  (b) Great Grimsby constituency in each year since their introduction.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of antisocial behaviour orders issued at all courts in the Humberside CJS area, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, April 1999 to December 2005 
			   Number 
			 April 1999 to May 2000 0 
			 June to December 2000 9 
			 2001 4 
			 2002 4 
			 2003 10 
			 2004 72 
			 2005 137 
			 Total 236 
			  Notes: 1. Previously issued data have been revised following joint Home Office/Court Service data reconciliation exercises. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Assets Recovery Agency: Christmas

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Assets Recovery Agency has to hold a Christmas party or parties in 2007.

Vernon Coaker: There will be no Asset Recovery Agency party. A number of groups of Asset Recovery Agency staff will organise their own Christmas functions.

Asylum

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 10 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1930W, on asylum, what further information is being solicited from unsuccessful asylum claimants; how many such individuals have been contacted; when she expects to provide an update on the case resolution programme; what reports have been produced on the programme; if she will publish those reports; and if she will make a statement on her plans for dealing with unsuccessful asylum claimants subject to the case resolution programme in each year since the scheme began.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 18 December 2007
	Cases are considered on an individual basis. The nature of any additional information required, therefore, will depend upon the circumstances of the particular case being considered.
	The chief executive wrote to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 17 December 2007 about the progress made by the case resolution directorate. A copy of the letter is available in the House of Commons Library. As stated in the letter, we intend to report every six months on the number of files that have been concluded.

Asylum

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum cases the Case Resolution Directorate is dealing with; how many of these have been brought by residents of London constituencies, broken down by constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: We have previously estimated that there are around 400,000 to 450,000 electronic and paper records, although this is difficult to assess accurately as many case records are duplicates or errors. This figure does not therefore equate to numbers of asylum applicants.
	The information on the number of cases brought by residents of London constituencies, broken down by constituency is not available in the format requested.
	We will provide updates on progress on the work of the Case Resolution Directorate on a six monthly basis to the Home Affairs Select Committee. The first of these was published on 17 December 2007 and announced that we have concluded 52,000 cases to date, of which two thirds were either removed or discovered to be duplicate files or errors.

Asylum: Deportation

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been deported to  (a) Sudan,  (b) Burma,  (c) Zimbabwe,  (d) Iraq,  (e) the Democratic Republic of Congo,  (f) Sri Lanka and  (g) Afghanistan in the last 12 months.

Jacqui Smith: The following table shows the number of asylum applicants, including dependants, removed to the listed countries between October 2006 and September 2007, inclusive.
	
		
			  Removals, voluntary departures and assisted returns( 1)  of asylum applicants( 2) , including dependants, to stated destinations, October 2006 to September 2007( 3,4) 
			Number of asylum applicants, of whom: 
			  Destination  Total removals October 2006 to September 2007  Persons refused entry at port and subsequently removed( 5,6)  Persons removed as a result of enforcement action and voluntary departures( 6,7)  Persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes( 8) 
			 Sudan 90 5 35 50 
			 Burma 5 * — 5 
			 Zimbabwe 270 25 35 210 
			 Iraq 690 20 100 565 
			 Democratic Republic of Congo 150 35 85 30 
			 Sri Lanka 515 130 195 190 
			 Afghanistan 980 105 435 435 
			 (1) Includes enforced removals, persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organization for Migration and those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (2) Persons who had sought asylum at some stage. (3) Figures are rounded to the nearest five (— = 0, * = one or two) and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. (4) Provisional figures. (5) Includes cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls. (6) Including persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them. (7) From January 2005 figures include persons who it has been established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. It is not possible to separately identify asylum applicants who left 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated from those that left as a direct result of the enforcement action, due to data quality issues. Excludes assisted voluntary returns. Since January 2004 figures include management information on the number of deportations. Figures include people removed under AVR-FRS (facilitated return schemes) in 2006. (8) Persons leaving under voluntary assisted return programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. May include some cases where enforcement action has been initiated.

Asylum: Entry Clearances

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will give a break down of the categories under which discretionary leave to remain has been granted to asylum seekers in each year since 2003.

Liam Byrne: The requested information can be obtained only by examination of individual case records, at disproportionate cost.

Aviation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many air miles were travelled by Ministers in her Department in each year since 2000; and what estimate she has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result;
	(2)  how many miles she and other Ministers in her Department travelled on short haul flights in the last 12 months; and what estimate she has made of the total amount of carbon emissions produced as a result of these flights.

Liam Byrne: Since 1999 the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the current financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. From next year, the list will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	All central Government ministerial and official air travel has been offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases certified emissions reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
	In addition, offsetting the flights of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development, and the Prime Minister has been backdated to 1 April 2005.
	A list of Government Carbon Offsetting Fund members, their emission figures and what activities they have offset through the fund is available online at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/carbonoffset/government.htm

British Nationality: Overseas Residence

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many holders of valid UK passports were  (a) resident in the UK and  (b) resident abroad at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Meg Hillier: In 2006-07 6.2 million passports were issued in the UK by the Identity and Passport Service and slightly over 400,000 outside the UK by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. However, there are no records of where holders of valid British passports currently reside and records of numbers of passports issued only confirm that a person was present at the issuing location when the passport was issued and do not account for subsequent changes such as emigration or death of the passport holder.

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is her Department's policy to use  (a) incandescent light bulbs and  (b) LED lights for festive decorations on departmental premises.

Liam Byrne: Arrangements for the provision of such lighting are made locally.

Closed Circuit Television

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for future funding to police authorities to update CCTV schemes.

Tony McNulty: On 6 December, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, announced the provisional police grant settlement for the next three years.

Closed Circuit Television: Bus Services

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) arrested and  (b) given anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOS) as a result of evidence from CCTV on buses in London in each year since 1997; and how many have been (i) arrested and (ii) given ASBOS as a result of the live CCTV pilot.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not centrally available.

Closed Circuit Television: Prosecutions

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make provision for closed-circuit television images to be copied for use by the police in criminal investigations.

Vernon Coaker: Most CCTV systems have some provision for images to be copied for use by the police in criminal investigations. Many of the digital CCTV systems currently in use do, from time to time, cause difficulties to some police forces. This issue has been highlighted in the National CCTV Strategy, published on 19 October 2007.
	The Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) has produced advice (available on their website) on the UK police requirements for digital CCTV systems. This guidance can significantly alleviate many of the problems that are being encountered. HOSDB are also working with the industry to influence the design of new digital CCTV systems which better map to current and future policing needs.

Corruption

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to respond to the letter of 22 November 2007 from the hon. Member for Twickenham about bribery and corruption; what the reasons are for the time taken to reply; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 13 December 2007
	I responded to the hon. Gentleman's letter of 22 November on 11 December, within the Home Office performance target for responses to ministerial correspondence.

Council Tax: Rates and Rating

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average Band D council tax was for each police authority in England and Wales in 2007-08.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Police precept (Band D) by police authority 2007-08 
			  Police authority  £ 
			 Avon and Somerset 147.17 
			 Bedfordshire 123.43 
			 Cambridgeshire 149.40 
			 Cheshire 116.03 
			 Cleveland 158.10 
			 Cumbria 171.09 
			 Derbyshire 141.91 
			 Devon and Cornwall 131.73 
			 Dorset 156.51 
			 Durham 135.72 
			 Essex 116.46 
			 Gloucestershire 179.49 
			 Hampshire 125.37 
			 Hertfordshire 130.17 
			 Humberside 149.58 
			 Kent 122.18 
			 Lancashire 125.95 
			 Leicestershire 138.96 
			 Lincolnshire 131.58 
			 Norfolk 164.88 
			 Northamptonshire 170.21 
			 North Yorkshire 185.40 
			 Nottinghamshire 138.78 
			 Staffordshire 160.15 
			 Suffolk 137.34 
			 Surrey 171.27 
			 Sussex 122.67 
			 Thames Valley 139.19 
			 Warwickshire 145.90 
			 West Mercia 157.66 
			 Wiltshire 139.35 
			 Average Shires 140.94 
			   
			 Greater Manchester 116.19 
			 Merseyside 127.53 
			 Northumbria 74.62 
			 South Yorkshire 118.92 
			 West Midlands 91.47 
			 West Yorkshire 118.02 
			 Average Mets 107.48 
			   
			 Average England (Exc. London) 133.22 
			   
			 Metropolitan 223.60 
			   
			 Average England (inc. London) 147.90 
			   
			 Dyfed-Powys 157.68 
			 Gwent 159.94 
			 North Wales 178.16 
			 South Wales 132.74 
			 Average Wales 153.03 
			   
			 Average England and Wales 148.21 
			  Source: English police authorities—DCLG Welsh police authorities—WAG

Crime: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on the trends in crime clear-up rates in  (a) Southend and  (b) Essex since 1997; and what representations she has received on this issue in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The detections figures for Essex police are shown in the following table.
	Data for detections in Southend are available only from 2000-01. In April 2006, Southend became part of South Eastern BCU, and separate figures are no longer available.
	
		
			  Financial Year  Force detections  Force detection rate  Force sanction detections( 1)  Force sanction detection rate( 1) 
			 1997 23,943 27 — — 
			 1998/99(2) 27,542 29 — — 
			 1999/2000(3) 30,503 30 — — 
			 2000-01 27,708 26 22,249 21 
			 2001-02 29,567 26 22,827 20 
			 2002-03(4) 37,244 27 22,288 16 
			 2003-04 39,748 28 24,189 17 
			 2004-05 37,034 27 29,382 22 
			 2005-06 40,384 31 34,596 26 
			 2006-07 41,752 33 37,484 29 
			 (1) Data for sanction detections are available only from 2000-01. A sanction detection is one which results in a charge or summons, caution, an offence being taken into consideration, a penalty notice for disorder or a cannabis warning. (2) The Home Office Counting Rules for recorded crime changed with effect from April 1998. These brought new offences into the series with varying detection rates. (3) Additional guidance on counting detections was implemented from 1 April 1999. (4) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002. Data before and after that date are not directly comparable. 
		
	
	
		
			  Southend Basic Command Unit (BCU)( 1) 
			  Financial Year  BCU detections  BCU detection rate  BCU sanction( 2)  detections  BCU sanction detection rate 
			 2000-01 4,760 33 4,095 28 
			 2001-02 4,351 32 3,550 26 
			 2002-03(3) 5,592 34 3,195 19 
			 2003-04 5,006 29 3,637 21 
			 2004-05 4,566 27 3,718 22 
			 2005-06 5,237 32 4,235 26 
			 2006-07(4) 8,280 35 7,496 32 
			 (1) BCU data are available only from 2001-02. (2) Data for sanction detections are available only from 2000-01. A sanction detection is one which results in a charge or summons, caution, an offence being taken into consideration, a penalty notice for disorder or a cannabis warning. (3) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002. Data before and after that date are not directly comparable. (4) Southend forms part of Essex South Eastern BCU with effect from April 2006, separate figures for Southend are no longer available.

Crime: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the trends in the number of  (a) racial and  (b) rape crimes reported in the Metropolitan Police Service results for October 2007 in the London borough of Havering.

Vernon Coaker: We have not published any crime statistics for October 2007 and therefore cannot make any public assessment.

Crime: Racial Violence

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of racial violence were reported in the Durham police authority area in each year since 2000; and how many resulted in conviction.

Vernon Coaker: The available information relates to offences of racially or religiously aggravated offences.
	The statistics requested cannot be provided in the form requested since it is not possible to track individual offences to conclusion and therefore convictions cannot be directly related to the offences recorded. The recorded offences data given in table 1 are based on the number of crimes reported to and recorded by the police and are on a financial year basis. The convictions data in table 2 are based on the number of offenders convicted and are on a calendar year basis. Convictions figures are counts of offenders classified by their principal offence.
	
		
			  Table 1: Racially or religiously aggravated offences of violence recorded by the police in Durham 
			  Number of offences 
			   Racially or religiously aggravated offences of: 
			   Less serious wounding  Assault without injury( 1)  Harassment 
			 2000-01 5 4 34 
			 2001-02 4 12 61 
			 2002-03(2) 3 8 69 
			 2003-04 14 12 107 
			 2004-05 10 10 125 
			 2005-06 24 13 196 
			 2006-07 19 14 243 
			 (1) Includes some assaults with minor injury prior to 2002-03. (2) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002 and figures before and after that date are not directly comparable. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of defendants found guilty at all courts for racially or religiously aggravated offences, Durham police force area, 1997-2006( 1,2) 
			   Racially or religiously aggravated offences of: 
			   Less serious wounding  Common assault  Harassment 
			 1997 — — — 
			 1998 — — — 
			 1999 — — 6 
			 2000 3 2 12 
			 2001 5 3 12 
			 2002 1 4 14 
			 2003 — 1 27 
			 2004 3 5 24 
			 2005 4 7 36 
			 2006 — 2 46 
			 (1) These data are provided on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Crimes of Violence

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has conducted into the prevalence of violence between 9.00 pm and 5.00 am.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office published a study in 2007 to determine the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on violent crime, disorder and criminal damage. The study (which will contribute to a larger Home Office evaluation to be published early 2008) analysed time stamped data and focused on the types of offences that can occur as a result of alcohol misuse and night-time disorder and to see whether the timing of offences had changed. A copy of the report can be found on the Home Office website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr1607.pdf
	In addition, the Home Office also collects data via the British Crime Survey (BCS) on violent incidents. Relevant statistical information is as follows:
	The 2005-06 BCS reported a reduction in the number of violent crimes committed in or around pubs and clubs in 2005-06 compared with 2004-05 at 17 per cent. from 22 per cent.
	In 2006-07 victims believed the offender or offenders to be under the influence of alcohol in 46 per cent. of all violent incidents (at any time of day).
	It is also worth noting that the feasibility of police forces flagging violent crime and disorder offences in the night-time economy is being examined as part of the regular annual data requirement review process by the Home Office and ACPO.

Crimes of Violence: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the levels of violent crime in London in the year ending in October 2008.

Vernon Coaker: According to the British Crime Survey, the most reliable indicator of long-term trends in violent crime, violence nationally fell by 35 per cent. between 1997 and 2006-07. Police-recorded violence against the person in London fell by 8 per cent. between 2005-06 and 2006-07. Estimates for 2007-08 are not available.
	The Government are undertaking a wide-ranging programme of work to tackle violent crime. In London, Operation Trident was set up in 1998 in response to a string of what are often called 'black-on-black' shootings. It is a Metropolitan Police Service team dedicated to tackling gun crime within the black community. Community involvement has been seen as key to Trident's success from the outset, with the Trident Independent Advisory Group set up to harness public support and keep officers informed of community views. Trident is widely seen as a successful model and has been emulated in other cities. Adult Trident offences are falling.
	The London Youth Crime Prevention Board is a partnership of senior figures from all of the key agencies, which is currently agreeing on a range of new pan-London measures to reduce the flow of young people into early criminality—including those who could go on to commit serious crime. The Board is exploring what more local authorities, schools and the criminal justice system might do to improve youth crime prevention across London. It will seek to instigate a number of changes before completing its work at the end of 2008.
	Work on tackling domestic violence continues on a number of fronts. London is working to ensure that there are Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) across London. This is an evidence-based approach which allows agencies to manage perpetrators and reduce risk to victims.
	The Five Borough Alliance (5BA) was set up this year as a multi-agency response to gangs issues. The boroughs are Croydon, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. 5BA run a range of programmes and further initiatives are being developed.

Demonstrations: Greater London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which hon. Members have applied under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 to demonstrate on College Green; and when each applied.

Vernon Coaker: The policing of demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament is an operational matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. As such, I have asked the Metropolitan police to collate the information requested by the hon. Gentleman. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman when that information is available.

Demonstrations: Greater London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether news media organisations have applied to demonstrate on College Green;
	(2)  who applied for an application to demonstrate in Parliament Square in August 2007.

Vernon Coaker: The policing of demonstrations in the vicinity of Parliament is an operational matter for the commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis. As such I have asked the Metropolitan Police to collate the information requested by the hon. Gentleman. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman when that information is available.

Departmental Coordination

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are followed for authorising policies with significant financial implications for her Department, with particular reference to the role of the finance director; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Budgets within the Home Office are planned and delegated on the basis of known priorities and pressures. In order to ensure a robust approach finance officials reporting to the Finance Director are engaged in policy development with significant cost implications to ensure policy proposals are affordable.
	Significant projects and programmes are managed through a Group Investment Board chaired by the Director General of Finance and Commercial on which the Finance Director sits. In compliance with HM Treasury principles on delegated authority we seek clearance with the Treasury for projects and programmes above an agreed limit.

Departmental Procurement

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the standard terms and conditions of purchase used by her Department in procurement of goods and services from the private sector prohibits the assignment of debt.

Liam Byrne: The Home Department uses a range of different terms and conditions for purchasing goods and services depending on their complexity and value. Generally these do not contain an express provision prohibiting the assignment of debts by the contractor. This reflects the position that, as the purchaser, it is the Home Department making payments rather than the contractor. Home Department contracts normally contain a provision prohibiting the assignment of any part of the contract without obtaining the consent of the Department.

Deportation

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in  (a) Kent and  (b) England who fraudulently obtained indefinite leave to remain were deported in the last 12 months.

Liam Byrne: The information requested can be obtained only through the detailed examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost. The chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency wrote a letter to the Home Affairs Committee on 20 November providing the most up-to-date and robust information regarding the deportation of foreign national prisoners. A copy of this letter is available in the Library of the House.

Deportation: EC Action

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations her Department has made in the Council of Europe on revision by international instrument of Article 3 of the European Charter of Human Rights as it applies in deportation cases.

Jacqui Smith: None. As I made clear when I wrote to the chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights in August, the Government are not seeking to amend the text of article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Emergency Calls

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with plans to introduce a new national three digit non-emergency phone number for contacting the police; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office has established a national telephony infrastructure for the non-emergency policing and community safety phone number, 101, and has demonstrated the principles and benefits of this new service in five police and council partnership areas across England and Wales. The Home Office will not continue to directly fund these initial partnership areas from 14 February 2008 or to directly fund further roll-out in other areas. However, the Home Office will continue to provide funding to support the national 101 telephony infrastructure. This continued funding together with the lessons learned for improving local services from the initial areas, will enable and inform local police and councils who wish to develop their own locally funded 101 service.

Entry Clearances

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to revoke the status of a person granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK if it can be demonstrated that this status was acquired on a fraudulent basis.

Liam Byrne: There is provision in both primary and secondary immigration legislation to revoke or invalidate indefinite leave to remain where this has been fraudulently obtained.

Essex Police Authority: Qualifications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what relevant specialist qualifications the chief executive of Essex police authority holds; what his or her career has been to date; what process was followed in his or her appointment; where the post was advertised; how many persons applied for the post; how many were short-listed for interview; how each was appraised; what criteria were adopted for each candidate; how many candidates were rejected; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The appointment of chief executives and their qualifications and experience is a matter for the individual police authority.

Essex Police Authority: Qualifications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what relevant specialist qualifications each member of the Essex police authority holds; what the career of each has been to date; when each was appointed and by whom; what process was followed in his or her appointment; where the post was advertised; how many persons applied for the post; how many were short-listed for interview; how each was appraised; what criteria were adopted for each candidate; how many candidates were rejected; where Essex police authority is located; how much was spent by it on  (a) office accommodation,  (b) staff costs,  (c) travel and subsistence and  (d) staff bonuses in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The appointment of police authority members, the experience and qualifications of their members and the expenditure of the authority are matters for the individual police authority. Essex police authority is located in Chelmsford, Essex.

Essex Police: Standards

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to improve the performance of  (a) Southend Police and  (b) Essex Police following the Police Performance Assessment 2006-07 produced by her Department and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Assessments are made for all 43 police forces in England and Wales and in seven key areas. Forces are assigned the clear judgments "excellent", "good", "fair" and "poor" and—for three of these areas—a judgment of "improved", "stable" or "deteriorated" is also made.
	Essex's assessment in each area was as follows:
	Tackling crime—Good
	Serious crime and public protection—Good
	Protecting vulnerable people—Fair
	Satisfaction and fairness—Fair
	Neighbourhood policing—Fair
	Local priorities—Good
	Resources and efficiency—Good.
	Essex's assessment for direction of travel was:
	Tackling crime—Stable
	Satisfaction and fairness—Stable
	Resources and efficiency—Stable.
	The Home Office and HMIC will continue to support forces to address the issues highlighted in the assessments.

Essex Police: Standards

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on the performance of police in  (a) Essex and  (b) Southend in each of the last seven years; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I and my predecessors have received numerous representations regarding police forces in England and Wales. In addition, there have been formal reports published relating to the performance of the police service and of Essex police specifically. These can be found on the websites for Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) at:
	http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmic/inspections/
	and the Home Office at:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/performance-and-measurement/performance-ssessment/
	The most recent police performance assessments were published in October 2007.
	The latest HMIC publication regarding Essex police was the phase one Inspection Report (October 2007), and regarding policing in the Southend BCU in the BCU Inspection (September 2003) and Follow-Up Inspection (December 2004).

Firearms

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms were  (a) surrendered to and  (b) seized by the police in each London borough in each year since 2001.

Vernon Coaker: The figures requested are not held centrally.

Firearms: Databases

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will establish a central register for firearms  (a) seized and  (b) disposed of by police services in England and Wales.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office does not collate information on the number of firearms seized by police forces. The new National Ballistics Intelligence Database, which will start being implemented this year, may provide an overall picture of firearms seizures in future.

Foreigners: NHS

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the planned identity card scheme will enable NHS managers to check the eligibility of non-EU citizens for NHS outpatient care.

Meg Hillier: ID cards issued under the UK Borders Act to non-EU citizens will record an individual's immigration status, indicating whether the person has limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain. It will not contain details of the individual's right to NHS services. Where a person has no recourse to public funds, the card will have the statement "no recourse to public funds".
	The criteria for access to NHS services are defined by the NHS therefore it would be the health care provider's responsibility to confirm eligibility.

Forensic Science Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is European legislation relating to the liberalisation of forensic science services.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 13 December 2007
	There is no European legislation specifically on the liberalisation of forensic science services. The procurement of such services is, however, governed by the same European legislation as governs the procurement of publicly financed services in general, which requires bidding to be open to suppliers in all EU member states, except where certain national security conditions apply.

Forensic Science Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on the Forensic Science Service since it acquired the status of a Government-owned company in 2006.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 13 December 2007
	The Forensic Science Service has received no additional money from the Home Office since it was vested as a Government-owned company, other than through the provision of loans arranged prior to vesting and intended to support the transition from Executive Agency to GovCo. The loan in relation to their pension provision has been partially repaid, and the balance is expected to be paid by 2008-09. The Home Office receives interest on the outstanding loans and is eligible to receive dividends on its investment.

Forensic Science Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance targets were set for the Forensic Science Service (FSS) in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007; and how the FSS performed against its targets in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 13 December 2007
	Since December 2005, the Forensic Science Service (FSS) has been established as a Government-owned company. It is no longer an Executive agency of the Home Office and thus no longer subject to the agency target setting regime. Its establishment as a Government-owned company was designed to provide the FSS with the freedom, flexibility, structures and resources to better respond to customer needs.
	Therefore, the Home Office as its shareholder does not set the FSS detailed performance targets as such. Instead it agrees an overall strategic business plan with the FSS. The business plan covers such matters as trading and operational performance, but as the FSS now operates in a competitive market, the details are commercially confidential. The FSS published a report and accounts covering its financial performance for the period since changing status, in August 2007. This was filed at Companies House, and copies were placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Genetics: Databases

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have personal data relating to fingerprints or DNA stored on national police computers; and what percentage of these records relate to individuals who  (a) have not committed a criminal offence and  (b) are not suspected of any criminality.

Meg Hillier: 7.3 million individuals have fingerprint records stored on the national fingerprint system, Ident1, as at 31 October 2007. This includes records for England, Wales and Scotland. The number of these who have not been convicted of a criminal offence could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	An estimated 4,188,033 individuals had a DNA profile on the National DNA Database, of which 3,938,156 were sampled by police forces in England and Wales, as at 31 October 2007. In relation to the number of individuals who have not been convicted of any offence on the National DNA Database, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone) on 13 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 761-62 W.
	Of those on the DNA Database, about 22,700 have provided a DNA profile voluntarily and the remainder had DNA taken under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).
	The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 amended PACE to allow samples to be taken if the person was charged with, or reported for summons, or convicted for a recordable offence, and allowed the samples and DNA profiles derived from these to be retained and speculatively searched against other samples and profiles held by or on behalf of the police, thus allowing the creation of the DNA database for use in criminal investigations. However, if the person was not prosecuted or was acquitted the samples and profiles had to be destroyed. The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 amended PACE to remove the requirement for destruction of samples following a discontinuance or acquittal, but specified that any samples and profiles that were retained could be used only for the purposes of the prevention and detection of crime, the investigation of an offence or the conduct of a prosecution. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 amended PACE to allow the police to take DNA and fingerprints without consent from anyone arrested for a recordable offence and detained in a police station.
	People who volunteer to give a DNA sample include victims, witnesses, people with legitimate access to crime scenes, family members, and those responding to DNA intelligence-led screens. There are two options: consent to giving a sample of DNA to be used in a single investigation only which is then destroyed; and consent to giving a sample of DNA which will be added to the database and kept permanently.

Genetics: Databases

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) males and  (b) females aged (i) under 14, (ii) between 15 and 24, (iii) between 25 and 34, (iv) between 35 and 44, (v) between 45 and 54, (vi) between 55 and 64 and (vii) over 65 years in each of the ethnic appearance category were registered on the National DNA Database in each period for which figures are available.

Meg Hillier: The information requested is supplied in the following tables which show the position for the UK, and for England and Wales, at 30 September 2007.
	
		
			  Whole database at 30 September 2007—age on load 
			  Ethnic appearance  Age range  Number of profiles  Number of individuals using 13.7 per cent. estimated replication rate  Percentage 
			  Male 
			 Unknown Under 14 14,518 12,529 3.91 
			  15 to 24 139,865 120,703 37.66 
			  25 to 34 93,381 80,588 25.14 
			  35 to 44 66,701 57,563 17.96 
			  45 to 54 35,294 30,459 9.50 
			  55 to 64 15,051 12,989 4.05 
			  Over 65 5,609 4,841 1.51 
			  Unknown age on load 1,019 879 0.27 
			 Total unknown __ 371,438 320,551 __ 
			  
			 Afro-Caribbean Under 14 18,143 15,657 6.58 
			  15 to 24 107,979 93,186 39.18 
			  25 to 34 74,065 63,918 26.87 
			  35 to 44 51,774 44,681 18.78 
			  45 to 54 14,009 12,090 5.08 
			  55 to 64 3,305 2,852 1.20 
			  Over 65 1,467 1,266 0.53 
			  Unknown age on load 4,889 4,219 1.77 
			 Total Afro-Caribbean — 275,631 237,870 — 
			  
			 Arab Under 14 687 593 2.35 
			  15 to 24 10,810 9,329 37.04 
			  25 to 34 10,769 9,294 36.90 
			  35 to 44 4,577 3,950 15.68 
			  45 to 54 1,649 1,423 5.65 
			  55 to 64 371 320 1.27 
			  Over 65 90 78 0.31 
			  Unknown age on load 228 197 0.78 
			 Total Arab — 29,181 25,183 — 
			  
			 Asian Under 14 9,549 8,241 4.70 
			  15 to 24 90,175 77,821 44.41 
			  25 to 34 58,306 50,318 28.71 
			  35 to 44 26,588 22,945 13.09 
			  45 to 54 12,454 10,748 6.13 
			  55 to 64 3,347 2,888 1.65 
			  Over 65 1,199 1,035 0.59 
			  Unknown age on load 1,439 1,242 0.71 
			 Total Asian — 203,057 175,238 — 
			  
			 Dark skinned European Under 14 3,533 3,049 5.06 
			  15 to 24 26,470 22,844 38.05 
			  25 to 34 22,479 19,399 32.31 
			  35 to 44 11,554 9,971 16.61 
			  45 to 54 3,561 3,073 5.12 
			  55 to 64 925 798 1.33 
			  Over 65 209 180 0.30 
			  Unknown age on load 840 725 1.21 
			 Total dark skinned European — 69,571 60,040 — 
			  
			 Oriental Under 14 476 411 2.55 
			  15 to 24 6,632 5,723 35.60 
			  25 to 34 5,934 5,121 31.85 
			  35 to 44 3,652 3,152 19.60 
			  45 to 54 1,427 1,232 7.66 
			  55 to 64 333 287 1.79 
			  Over 65 89 77 0.48 
			  Unknown age on load 88 76 0.47 
			 Total Oriental — 18,631 16,079 — 
			  
			 White skinned European Under 14 211,101 182,180 7.46 
			  15 to 24 1,147,665 990,435 40.54 
			  25 to 34 642,053 554,092 22.68 
			  35 to 44 453,428 391,308 16.02 
			  45 to 54 217,007 187,277 7.66 
			  55 to 64 91,739 79,171 3.24 
			  Over 65 29,542 25,496 1.04 
			  Unknown age on load 38,726 33,421 1.37 
			 Total white skinned European — 2,831,262 2,443,379 — 
			  
			  Female 
			 Unknown Under 14 5,850 5,049 6.63 
			  15 to 24 34,662 29,913 39.28 
			  25 to 34 21,484 18,541 24.34 
			  35 to 44 16,314 14,079 18.49 
			  45 to 54 7,142 6,164 8.09 
			  55 to 64 2,200 1,899 2.49 
			  Over 65 546 471 0.62 
			  Unknown age on load 53 46 0.06 
			 Total unknown — 88,251 76,161 — 
			  
			 Afro-Caribbean Under 14 7,082 6,112 10.83 
			  15 to 24 28,016 24,178 42.85 
			  25 to 34 16,648 14,367 25.46 
			  35 to 44 10,377 8,955 15.87 
			  45 to 54 2,532 2,185 3.87 
			  55 to 64 412 356 0.63 
			  Over 65 103 89 0.16 
			  Unknown age on load 209 180 0.32 
			 Total Afro-Caribbean — 65,379 56,422 — 
			  
			 Arab Under 14 128 110 4.83 
			  15 to 24 862 744 32.56 
			  25 to 34 769 664 29.04 
			  35 to 44 523 451 19.75 
			  45 to 54 252 217 9.52 
			  55 to 64 77 66 2.91 
			  Over 65 28 24 1.06 
			  Unknown age on load 9 8 0.34 
			 Total Arab — 2,648 2,285 — 
			  
			 Asian Under 14 1,867 1,611 6.87 
			  15 to 24 11,897 10,267 43.80 
			  25 to 34 7,411 6,396 27.29 
			  35 to 44 3,698 3,191 13.62 
			  45 to 54 1,661 1,433 6.12 
			  55 to 64 473 408 1.74 
			  Over 65 101 87 0.37 
			  Unknown age on load 53 46 0.20 
			 Total Asian — 27,161 23,440 — 
			  
			 Dark skinned European Under 14 1,679 1,449 11.42 
			  15 to 24 6,091 5,257 41.45 
			  25 to 34 3,830 3,305 26.06 
			  35 to 44 2,110 1,821 14.36 
			  45 to 54 713 615 4.85 
			  55 to 64 174 150 1.18 
			  Over 65 42 36 0.29 
			  Unknown age on load 57 49 0.39 
			 Total dark skinned European — 14,696 12,683 — 
			  
			 Oriental Under 14 239 206 3.45 
			  15 to 24 2,554 2,204 36.88 
			  25 to 34 2,149 1,855 31.03 
			  35 to 44 1,260 1,087 18.20 
			  45 to 54 546 471 7.88 
			  55 to 64 136 117 1.96 
			  Over 65 30 26 0.43 
			  Unknown age on load 11 9 0.16 
			 Total Oriental  6,925 5,976  
			  
			 White skinned European Under 14 90,528 78,126 12.27 
			  15 to 24 295,239 254,791 40.00 
			  25 to 34 155,015 133,778 21.00 
			  35 to 44 122,422 105,650 16.59 
			  45 to 54 51,484 44,431 6.98 
			  55 to 64 17,048 14,712 2.31 
			  Over 65 4,331 3,738 0.59 
			  Unknown age on load 2,016 1,740 0.27 
			 Total white skinned European — 738,083 636,966 — 
		
	
	
		
			  England and Wales at 30 September 2007—age on load 
			  Ethnic appearance  Age range  Number of profiles  Number of individuals using 13.7 per cent. estimated replication rate  Percentage 
			  Male 
			 Unknown Under 14 12,272 10,591 6.03 
			  15 to 24 72,419 62,498 35.60 
			  25 to 34 49,342 42,582 24.26 
			  35 to 44 35,330 30,490 17.37 
			  45 to 54 20,301 17,520 9.98 
			  55 to 64 9,501 8,199 4.67 
			  Over 65 3,802 3,281 1.87 
			  Unknown age on load 449 387 0.22 
			 Total unknown — 203,416 175,548 — 
			  
			 Afro-Caribbean Under 14 18,128 15,644 6.62 
			  15 to 24 107,605 92,863 39.32 
			  25 to 34 73,406 63,349 26.82 
			  35 to 44 51,185 44,173 18.70 
			  45 to 54 13,802 11,911 5.04 
			  55 to 64 3,230 2,787 1.18 
			  Over 65 1,454 1,255 0.53 
			  Unknown age on load 4,873 4,205 1.78 
			 Total Afro-Caribbean — 273,683 236,188 — 
			  
			 Arab Under 14 686 592 2.37 
			  15 to 24 10,781 9,304 37.19 
			  25 to 34 10,685 9,221 36.86 
			  35 to 44 4,526 3,906 15.61 
			  45 to 54 1,625 1,402 5.61 
			  55 to 64 366 316 1.26 
			  Over 65 90 78 0.31 
			  Unknown age on load 228 197 0.79 
			 Total Arab — 28,987 25,016 — 
			  
			 Asian Under 14 9,546 8,238 4.72 
			  15 to 24 89,901 77,585 44.47 
			  25 to 34 57,992 50,047 28.69 
			  35 to 44 26,422 22,802 13.07 
			  45 to 54 12,362 10,668 6.11 
			  55 to 64 3,316 2,862 1.64 
			  Over 65 1,192 1,029 0.59 
			  Unknown age on load 1,433 1,237 0.71 
			 Total Asian — 202,164 174,468 — 
			  
			 Dark skinned European Under 14 3,524 3,041 5.11 
			  15 to 24 26,310 22,706 38.15 
			  25 to 34 22,273 19,222 32.30 
			  35 to 44 11,402 9,840 16.53 
			  45 to 54 3,505 3,025 5.08 
			  55 to 64 904 780 1.31 
			  Over 65 207 179 0.30 
			  Unknown age on load 838 723 1.22 
			 Total dark skinned European — 68,963 59,515 — 
			  
			 Oriental Under 14 473 408 2.56 
			  15 to 24 6,596 5,692 35.68 
			  25 to 34 5,885 5,079 31.83 
			  35 to 44 3,618 3,122 19.57 
			  45 to 54 1,416 1,222 7.66 
			  55 to 64 329 284 1.78 
			  Over 65 84 72 0.45 
			  Unknown age on load 88 76 0.48 
			 Total Oriental — 18,489 15,956 — 
			  
			 White skinned European Under 14 210,072 181,292 7.62 
			  15 to 24 1,116,731 963,739 40.51 
			  25 to 34 621,712 536,537 22.55 
			  35 to 44 440,469 380,125 15.98 
			  45 to 54 211,395 182,434 7.67 
			  55 to 64 89,502 77,240 3.25 
			  Over 65 28,888 24,930 1.05 
			  Unknown age on load 38,219 32,983 1.39 
			 Total white skinned European — 2,756,988 2,379,281 — 
			  
			  Female 
			 Unknown Under 14 5,271 4,549 9.08 
			  15 to 24 22,482 19,402 38.74 
			  25 to 34 13,103 11,308 22.58 
			  35 to 44 10,307 8,895 17.76 
			  45 to 54 4,759 4,107 8.20 
			  55 to 64 1,613 1,392 2.78 
			  Over 65 470 406 0.81 
			  Unknown age on load 22 19 0.04 
			 Total unknown — 58,027 50,077 — 
			  
			 Afro-Caribbean Under 14 7,079 6,109 10.92 
			  15 to 24 27,899 24,077 43.03 
			  25 to 34 16,469 14,213 25.40 
			  35 to 44 10,246 8,842 15.80 
			  45 to 54 2,442 2,107 3.77 
			  55 to 64 391 337 0.60 
			  Over 65 100 86 0.15 
			  Unknown age on load 209 180 0.32 
			 Total Afro-Caribbean — 64,835 55,953 — 
			  
			 Arab Under 14 127 110 4.82 
			  15 to 24 860 742 32.62 
			  25 to 34 762 658 28.91 
			  35 to 44 521 450 19.76 
			  45 to 54 252 217 9.56 
			  55 to 64 77 66 2.92 
			  Over 65 28 24 1.06 
			  Unknown age on load 9 8 0.34 
			 Total Arab — 2,636 2,275 — 
			  
			 Asian Under 14 1,867 1,611 6.90 
			  15 to 24 11,874 10,247 43.86 
			  25 to 34 7,372 6,362 27.23 
			  35 to 44 3,683 3,178 13.61 
			  45 to 54 1,649 1,423 6.09 
			  55 to 64 471 406 1.74 
			  Over 65 100 86 0.37 
			  Unknown age on load 53 46 0.20 
			 Total Asian — 27,063 23,361 — 
			  
			 Dark skinned European Under 14 1,676 1,446 11.48 
			  15 to 24 6,062 5,232 41.53 
			  25 to 34 3,797 3,277 26.01 
			  35 to 44 2,089 1,803 14.31 
			  45 to 54 704 608 4.82 
			  55 to 64 172 148 1.18 
			  Over 65 42 36 0.29 
			  Unknown age on load 56 48 0.38 
			 Total dark skinned European  14,598 12,598  
			  
			 Oriental Under 14 238 205 3.46 
			  15 to 24 2,537 2,189 36.87 
			  25 to 34 2,137 1,844 31.06 
			  35 to 44 1,250 1,079 18.17 
			  45 to 54 544 469 7.91 
			  55 to 64 134 116 1.95 
			  Over 65 30 26 0.44 
			  Unknown age on load 11 9 0.16 
			 Total Oriental — 6,881 5,938 — 
			  
			 White skinned European Under 14 90,165 77,812 12.42 
			  15 to 24 290,224 250,463 39.98 
			  25 to 34 151,835 131,034 20.92 
			  35 to 44 120,229 103,758 16.56 
			  45 to 54 50,474 43,559 6.95 
			  55 to 64 16,678 14,393 2.30 
			  Over 65 4,250 3,668 0.59 
			  Unknown age on load 2,002 1,728 0.28 
			 Total white skinned European — 725,857 626,415 —

Genetics: Databases

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many and what proportion of the DNA samples from the National DNA database that have been used for research projects undertaken using data from the National DNA database the permission of the donor has been obtained; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: The Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) lays down that DNA samples and the profiles derived from them can only be used for the purposes of prevention and detection of crime, the investigation of an offence, the conduct of a prosecution or, since April 2005, for the purposes of identifying a deceased person. PACE does not require the permission of the person from whom the sample was taken for research to be carried out.
	Requests for the release of profiles or samples must be approved by the National DNA Database Strategy Board. In the first instance requests are made to the Custodian of the NDNAD who provides the Board with details of the request together with their observations on the merits of the request for the Board to consider. In accordance with the requirements of PACE, the Board does not approve any research unless it has clear operational benefit to the police.

Genetics: Databases

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA samples from the National DNA database have been used for each research project undertaken using data from the National DNA database to date; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Humberside Police Authority

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the average waiting time was for a Criminal Records Bureau check in the Humberside police authority area in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps her Department is taking to improve the performance of the Criminal Records Bureau in the Humberside police authority area; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  how many outstanding Criminal Records Bureau checks there were in the Humberside police authority area on 10 December 2007; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  how many Criminal Records Bureau checks were conducted in the Humberside police authority area in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: Since the inception of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) in 2002 Humberside police have carried out 272,465 checks as part of the Enhanced Disclosure process. On 10 December they had 7,119 checks outstanding and the following table shows the annual breakdown of checks completed.
	
		
			  Calendar year  Completed checks 
			 2002 20,978 
			 2003 37,253 
			 2004 47,648 
			 2005 55,238 
			 2006 56,105 
			 2007 55,243 
		
	
	As you can see there has been a marked increase in the number of applications sent to the force which almost doubled during the first year.
	During November 2007 Humberside police completed their part of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Enhanced Disclosure process in an average of 29.1 days.
	However average figures do not give an accurate indication of performance, since any force's performance can be affected by a number of factors; the volume of cases sent to a force to process in any given month, the number of staff available to process the checks and the IT resources on hand to forces. With these variables, performance can fluctuate within individual forces from one month to the next.
	The CRB has been supporting those forces that have encountered problems in meeting their targets by a range of measures including the provision of additional resources, monitoring performance, providing demand forecasting data and assistance in introducing new IT initiatives. Within Humberside police the following steps have been taken in conjunction with the CRB to improve performance:
	Increased resources have been made available to the force to support them in recruiting extra staff and obtaining new accommodation.
	Specialist training has been provided at the Disclosure Unit.
	An improvement plan has been implemented which shows a reduction in the workload between January and March 2007 to improve turnaround times following the escalation of cases within the force to the assistant chief constable.
	Discussions are currently underway regarding taking part in the Police Volume Management Project—this would enable the CRB to complete checks on behalf of Humberside via remote access to Humberside's local intelligence systems.
	Humberside police are implementing a new IT system on 31 January 2008 which will improve their current functionality while searching their local intelligence systems.

Identity Cards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the first identity cards are likely to be issued in the UK.

Meg Hillier: The Strategic Action Plan for the National Identity Scheme, published in December 2006, set out the Government's plans to provide more secure and reliable methods of proving identity, including the introduction of ID cards.
	The plans are for the Border and Immigration Agency to begin issuing identity cards to foreign nationals from 2008 and for the Identity and Passport Service to begin issuing ID cards to British citizens from 2009.

Identity Cards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the operational costs of the identity card and biometric passport scheme she estimates will be covered by fees charged for the cards and passports issued.

Meg Hillier: A detailed charging structure for the national identity scheme has yet to be determined and will need to be implemented through secondary legislation under section 35 of the Identity Cards Act 2006 that will require approval in both Houses of Parliament. However, it is expected that the running costs of the scheme will be recovered from fees just as they are now for passports.

Identity Cards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the cost of using  (a) three separate databases for the identity card project and  (b) creating a single database;
	(2)  what estimate has been made of the cost of including iris biometrics in passports and identity cards.

Meg Hillier: Providing any further breakdown of the estimated costs of the National Identity Scheme to that provided in the November cost report to Parliament would potentially jeopardise the ability of the Home Office to secure value for money from the recently commenced supplier dialogues for the procurement of services to operate the scheme.
	I would refer the hon. Member to the latest cost report that may be found at:
	http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/publications-legislative.asp

Identity Cards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what the annual volume of products issued in table 4 of the November 2007 identity cost report refers; and whether a joint identity card and passport is counted as one product.

Meg Hillier: The November 2007 Cost Report sets out a future estimate of passports, identity cards, and "combination products", where an applicant would be issued with both a passport and identity card through the same application.
	I would refer the hon. Member to the latest cost report that may be found at:
	http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/publications-legislative.asp
	To provide a further breakdown between each of these three application types, when taken together with other cost estimates already placed in the public domain, would jeopardise the current negotiations with prospective suppliers under the National Identity Scheme.

Identity Cards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2007,  Official Report, column 678W, on identity cards: costs, why the estimate of passports issued in 2007-08 is different from the estimate listed in the last row of table 4 of the November 2007 identity card cost report.

Meg Hillier: The answer of 20 November 2007,  Official Report, column 678W, on identity cards costs stated the estimated number of passports to be issued in 2007-08 as reported in the last Identity and Passport Service Business Plan (March 2007) and estimated at the time of publication of that document.
	The Cost Report laid before Parliament in November 2007 contained the latest estimate of all products to be issued for each of the 10 years covered by the report.

Identity Cards: Foreigners

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the likely effects of the introduction of mandatory identity cards for foreign nationals on access to services by foreign nationals; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: A regulatory impact assessment was issued for the UK Borders Act 2007 (which contains the new biometric registration provisions) in May 2007. An equality impact assessment for the biometric registration provisions was also issued. Both can be downloaded from the Border and Immigration Agency's website.
	The new identity cards for foreign nationals will make it easier for public service providers to confirm a person's eligibility to entitlements and for foreign nationals to access those services. This is because the new identity cards will replace the existing residence permits and other UK immigration status documents which can be subject to fraud. The new cards will be presented as a highly secure polycarbonate standalone card which will contain a tamperproof embedded chip. The face of the card will contain important biometric and biographical information—including the person's immigration status and entitlement to public funds in the UK.

Identity Documents

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted for destroying their identity documents on arrival at a UK airport in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: On 22 September 2004 section 2 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act came into force. Section 2 made failing to produce an immigration document, which satisfactorily establishes their nationality or identity, an offence. It does not differentiate between those who fail to produce an identity document or those who destroy an identity document on arrival.
	From 22 September 2004 until 30 November 2007 Border Control Criminal Investigations Teams secured 1,222 convictions or cautions under section 2. Prior to this date the offence did not exist.
	The data provided are based on locally collated management information, which may be subject to change and do not represent published national statistics.

Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the likely effect of the most recent extension of the Schengen area on the number of people attempting to enter the UK illegally; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The UK is not part of the Schengen area and has retained full national border controls. UK border controls are robust and can adapt flexibly to new challenges posed.

Immigrants: Catering

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the numbers of skilled restaurant staff (a) China and  (b) South Asian restaurants need to recruit annually to maintain their businesses; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and the Migration Impact Forum (MIF) have been set up to help inform the development of immigration policy.
	The Migration Advisory Committee will advise Government on where there are shortages in the economy which can sensibly be filled by migration. In particular it will produce shortage occupation lists for UK and Scotland for skilled employment. These lists comprise occupations where, in the MAC's view, there are shortages which can sensibly be filled by enabling employers to recruit migrants.
	The Migration Impacts Forum will enable the Government to understand the wider impacts of migration on local areas and services.

Immigration Controls

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of  (a) public and  (b) private sector organisations which are likely to apply for licences to sponsor migrants.

Liam Byrne: No such break down has been estimated.

Immigration Officers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which  (a) airlines and  (b) airport operators have offered the Border and Immigration Agency financial assistance to pay for extra immigration officers; and how many such offers have been accepted.

Liam Byrne: The airport operator at Heathrow funds the staffing of Fast Track Immigration Controls. Fast Track offers travellers selected by participating airlines a discrete channel to the Immigration Control. The decision about who receives a fast track 'ticket' for this service is not an immigration one. Further discussions are ongoing at Luton, Stansted and Gatwick with a number of airlines and airport operators who have offered additional financial assistance for Primary Arrival Control services. However, due to the commercial nature of these discussions the details of the organisations cannot be disclosed.

Immigration: Olympic Games 2012

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to ensure Olympic athletes do not stay in the UK illegally after the 2012 Games.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 17 December 2007
	Specific border security arrangements will be developed as part of the programme in order to manage the entry into and departure from the UK of Olympic athletes participating in the Games. All athletes competing in the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games must apply for Olympic accreditation in order to take part in the Games. The Border and Immigration Agency will work with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to issue Olympic Identity and Accreditation Cards to all entitled persons.

Marriage to Partners from Overseas

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the compatibility of the proposals in the consultation paper Marriage to Partners from Overseas with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Liam Byrne: The consultation paper Marriage to Partners from Overseas was launched on 5 December 2007 and the consultation period runs until 27 February 2008. Following the consultation careful consideration will be given to the compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights of the proposals taken forward.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on 1 November transferred from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (MP/Auth Ref: B33561/7).

Liam Byrne: holding answer 18 December 2007
	 The Border and Immigration Agency wrote to the hon. Member on 12 December 2007.

Metropolitan Police: Impounded Vehicles

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles in the Metropolitan Police area were impounded following reference to the motor insurance database in each of the last two years; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not collected centrally. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that in 2006 an estimated 10,000 and in 2007 an estimated 13,000 vehicles were seized.

Metropolitan Police: Motor Insurance Database

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the Metropolitan Police accessed the motor insurance database in each of the last two years; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not collected centrally. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that over the two years 2006 and 2007 the data base has been accessed about 60,000 times.

Migration Impacts Forum

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which groups, public bodies and organisations have submitted reports to the Migration Impacts Forum.

Jacqui Smith: The purpose of the Migration Impacts Forum (MIF) is to provide a forum for regular and organised dialogue with frontline professionals outside central Government, focused on the wider impacts associated with migration experienced by local areas. Membership of the MIF includes representatives from local authorities, voluntary and public sectors, the CBI and the TUC.
	In preparing thematic presentations for MIF meetings, lead MIF members may choose to consult a range of local and national stakeholders and use a number of publications.
	Papers presented at the MIF meetings can be found on the Border and Immigration Agency website.

Mr. Chanceless Takaruva

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the residency status is of Mr. Chanceless Takaruva of Skelmersdale and his family (Home Office ref: T1095080).

Liam Byrne: It would not be appropriate for me to comment on an individual case in the House. I wrote to my hon. Friend on 18 December 2007.

National DNA Database

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people with entries in the National DNA Database are resident in Wirral West constituency.

Meg Hillier: Information held on the NDNAD is available on a police force area basis but not a constituency basis. As at 6 December 2007, there were an estimated 107,208 individuals with a DNA profile on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) taken by Merseyside police. This figure is for people who had a DNA sample taken by Merseyside police, so in addition to residents of Merseyside, it includes people resident in other areas who had a DNA sample taken by that force, and excludes people resident in Merseyside who have had a sample taken by another force.

National Identity Register

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when the Government expects to publish an updated implementation timetable for the National Identity Scheme;
	(2)  whether she expects the target to roll-out identity cards to British citizens by the end of 2009 to be met.

Jacqui Smith: The Government remain committed to the introduction of a National Identity Scheme.
	The National Identity Scheme Strategic Action Plan was published in December 2006 outlining plans to begin issuing identity cards to foreign nationals from 2008 and to British citizens from 2009.
	A copy of the National Identity Scheme Strategic Action Plan can be found at:
	http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/downloads/strategic_action_plan.pdf
	An updated timetable for the implementation of the National Identity Scheme will be reported to Parliament and published in due course.

Offenders: Deportation

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many judicial recommendations for deportation of convicted criminals were  (a) made and  (b) carried out in each of the last two years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested could be obtained only by a detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	On 20 November the chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency wrote to the Home Affairs Committee to provide the most recent information available on the deportation of foreign national prisoners. In this letter she advised that, for the calendar year 2007 and up to the first week of November, approximately 3,500 foreign national prisoners were deported or removed. A copy of this letter is available from the Library of the House.

Offensive Weapons

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government has taken to reduce the number of dangerous weapons on the streets since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 18 December 2007
	 We have taken a range of legislative and preventative action to reduce the availability of guns, knives and other dangerous weapons since 1997.
	In 1997, following the Dunblane tragedy, we introduced a ban on handguns.
	In 2003, a national firearms amnesty resulted in nearly 45,000 firearms and over 1 million rounds of ammunition being handed in. In 2006, a national knives amnesty resulted in nearly 90,000 knives being handed in. Although we have never claimed that amnesties alone will solve the problem, they are one facet in a range of tactics which include tough enforcement, prevention and education work. We are currently exploring the possibility of a hand-in system for weapons which would fall short of an amnesty but still provide a conduit for people to remove weapons from circulation.
	The Criminal Justice Act 2003 introduced a mandatory minimum sentence for possession of a prohibited firearm of three years' detention for 16 to 17-year-olds and five years' imprisonment for people aged 18 and over.
	The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003:
	introduced a ban on self-contained gas cartridge guns;
	raised the age limit for having an air weapon; and
	made it an offence to have an air weapon or an imitation firearm in a public place without a reasonable excuse.
	Subsequently, the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006:
	raised the minimum age at which a person can buy a knife from 16 to 18;
	doubled the maximum sentence for possession of a knife in a public place without good reason from two to four years;
	introduced a new offence of using someone to mind a weapon—where someone hands their weapon to another person to look after, they will no longer be able to escape prosecution for possession (and where a child is used, this will constitute an aggravating factor in determining sentencing);
	banned the sale, manufacture and importation of realistic imitation firearms;
	introduced tougher sentences for carrying imitation firearms (increased from a maximum of six months' imprisonment to 12 months);
	further raised the age limit for having an air weapon (to 18);
	required that air weapons only be sold by registered firearms dealers; and
	introduced powers for school staff to search pupils for weapons (although schools can still call the police if preferred).
	On 12 December 2007, we announced that, following a public consultation, we intend to ban the sale, import and hire of samurai swords.
	In September 2007, the Tackling Gangs Action Programme (TGAP) was established, to focus targeted action in neighbourhoods of London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool where gun crime and gangs are a particular problem. The Association of Chief Police Officers, Serious Organised Crime Agency and HM Revenue and Customs are fully engaged in this work. On 28 November, an action day focusing on firearms was held in the four TGAP cities, which resulted in 124 arrests.
	Ongoing work also includes support for prevention and education work through a variety of educational packages and other projects such as the Urban Concepts 'Don't Trigger' anti-gun crime campaign.

Offensive Weapons

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to ensure young people are unable to purchase knives.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 18 December 2007
	Section 43 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 amends section 141A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, making it an offence to sell a knife to a person under the age of 18 years—up from 16 years. This came into force on 1 October 2007.

Offensive Weapons

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knives have been recovered in knife amnesty initiatives in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) each police force area in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: A national knife amnesty was held from 24 May to 30 June 2006, resulting in the surrender of 89,964 items in England and Wales. A table showing the breakdown of items recovered by force area is as follows.
	Figures for local weapon amnesties are not held centrally.
	
		
			  Knife amnesty—total items surrendered 24 May-30 June 2006 
			  Force  Domestic  Non Dom  Weapons  Of interest  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 1,510 634 129 69 2,342 
			 Bedfordshire 503 172 45 42 762 
			 Cambridgeshire 982 188 465 0 1,635 
			 Cheshire 1,241 457 287 55 2,040 
			 City of London 38 0 4 18 60 
			 Cleveland 729 224 159 41 1,153 
			 Cumbria 1,082 146 46 27 1,301 
			 Derbyshire 2,257 91 623 24 2,995 
			 Dorset 1,029 275 186 8 1,498 
			 Durham 593 326 124 19 1,062 
			 Dyfed Powys 470 188 121 14 793 
			 Devon Cornwall 2,626 601 375 150 3,752 
			 Essex 1,517 446 209 51 2,223 
			 Gloucestershire 702 309 50 0 1,061 
			 GMP 1,172 403 276 14 1,865 
			 Gwent 1,263 419 187 67 1,936 
			 Hampshire 3,209 841 529 57 4,636 
			 Herts 1,659 493 20 22 2,194 
			 Humberside 877 152 261 23 1,313 
			 Kent 2,603 704 421 0 3,807 
			 Lancashire 948 389 187 1 1,525 
			 Leicestershire 950 158 62 0 1,170 
			 Lincs 731 422 260 35 1,448 
			 Merseyside 1,142 630 33 0 1,888 
			 Met 0 0 0 0 9,145 
			 Norfolk (1) [383] [104] [13] [5] 1,723 
			 North Wales 1,152 392 177 10 1,731 
			 North Yorkshire 940 285 346 53 1,624 
			 Northants 1,312 174 140 0 1,626 
			 Northumbria 1,576 667 306 57 2,606 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,086 419 127 17 1,649 
			 South Wales 1,351 505 143 23 2,022 
			 South Yorks 1,143 68 379 42 1,631 
			 Staffordshire 1,200 524 222 64 2,010 
			 Suffolk 975 298 171 0 1,444 
			 Surrey 959 252 89 11 1,311 
			 Sussex 2,479 936 253 89 3,757 
			 Thames Valley 2,475 1,235 620 0 4,330 
			 Warwickshire 494 179 147 36 856 
			 West Mercia 1,523 440 164 0 2,127 
			 West Midlands 1,979 298 510 451 3,238 
			 West Yorkshire 851 332 175 17 1,375 
			 Wiltshire 894 177 120 9 1,200 
			 Totals (2) 52,222 16,595 9,148 1,658 89,864 
			 (1) Breakdown figures for Norfolk relate to items surrendered in first week only. (2) Breakdown figures do not equal final total due to (i).  Note: MPS has supplied a total only figure.

Passports

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which countries do not issue passports that are capable of being read by electronic or automated passport readers; what estimate her Department has made of the number of countries likely to be issuing such passports when the e-border system becomes operational; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: There are a small number of states still issuing passports that are not machine readable. The e-Borders programme has ensured that its solution is capable of processing such documents at both check-in and the immigration control.
	In addition, from 2008, all visa applicants will be required to provide a 10-finger fingerprint scan and a digital photograph, as part of the application process when applying for a UK visa. Fingerprints and facial images are now in use in 125 countries and the global roll-out will be completed by, or before, March 2008. Nationals from approximately three-quarters of the countries identified as listed require a visa to travel to the UK. We are currently applying a Visa Waiver Test to all non-EEA countries by the end of 2007, with changes to the UK's visa regimes taking place over 2008-09. The Visa Waiver Test uses a range of criteria including the assessment of the level of security and integrity of each individual countries passport.
	Furthermore, from 2008 onwards the UK will also start to introduce immigration documents for foreign nationals resident in the UK which will include fingerprints. Together, these measures will ensure that we can fix the identity of foreign nationals and thus check their entitlement to be in the UK.
	 Countries that do not currently have machine readable passports
	Afghanistan
	Algeria
	Bahamas
	Bangladesh
	Bolivia
	Botswana
	Chad
	Colombia
	Congo
	Cook Islands
	Cote d'Ivoire
	Democratic Republic of Congo
	East Timor
	Egypt
	El Salvador
	Equatorial Guinea
	Eritrea
	Gabon
	Ghana
	Guinea
	Guinea-Bissau
	Guyana
	Kiribati
	North Korea
	Libya
	Madagascar
	Marshall Islands
	Mauritania
	Federated States of Micronesia
	Morocco
	Mozambique
	Nauru
	Nepal
	Philippines
	Sao Tome
	Serbia
	Solomon Islands
	Somalia
	Sudan
	Turkey
	Vanuatu
	Montenegro
	Laos
	Turkmenistan.

Passports

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reason was for the reduction in the forecast of future passport volumes in the November 2007 identity cards cost report; and for what reasons her Department expects customers to delay passport renewals.

Meg Hillier: The future prediction of passport demand is updated periodically by the Identity and Passport Service to reflect actual numbers of applicants. The November 2007 Cost Report included the most recent prediction of future passport volumes. This prediction had recently been updated to reflect lower than anticipated passport renewals. There could be a number of reasons for passport renewals being increasingly delayed by customers:
	Other identity documents have been improved. In particular the introduction of the photo driving licence has been introduced in the last 10 years. This would be an alternative option for those who hold a passport for proof of identity reasons;
	Last minute behaviour. To a certain extent, the travel industry encourages 'last minute' behaviour and it is reasonable to believe that customers also apply this behaviour to how they apply for passports. This behaviour has also been enabled by IPS Fast Track services which have improved to meet this demand since these were first introduced in 1996;
	Changes in travel trends. Official statistics confirm that passenger journeys continue to increase, but whether this is the same number of people travelling more frequently is unclear. Hence the overall total demand for passports is difficult to predict with accuracy.
	The latest Cost Report may be found at:
	http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/publications-legislative.asp
	I would refer the hon. Member to that report.

Passports: Applications

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many interview centres for new passport applicants are operational.

Meg Hillier: As at 5 December 2007 36 Interview Offices dealing with first time passport customers are in live operations. We anticipate that 62 offices will be fully operational by end December 2007 with a further six opening by end February 2008.

Passports: Applications

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on acquiring premises for passport application interview centres.

Meg Hillier: The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) contracted Mapeley Abl Provider Limited to acquire, fit out and service manage the interview office estate capability. Following a competitive tender a contract award notice (OJEC Ref 06/5 74-77058/EN) was published on 13 April 2006 which gave a total contract value of £71.86 million (ex VAT). To the end of November 2007 IPS incurred costs of £35.33 million (ex VAT) against this contract and total life costs for the contract are not expected to exceed the published total. An additional £1.24 million (ex VAT) has been incurred by IPS on professional services in respect of design, assurance and legal advice in delivery of the estate.

Passports: Applications

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff have been recruited to work in passport interview centres.

Meg Hillier: As at 5 December 2007, 465 staff have been recruited to work in Interview Offices. We anticipate that we will reach the full complement of about 600 staff by February 2008.

Passports: Fraud

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many forged UK passports, including biometrics, have been detected and cancelled since November 2006.

Meg Hillier: Since November 2006 the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has recorded the receipt of 1,172 passports which have been tampered with or in some way forged. All 1,172 passports have been cancelled. Over the same period the Borders and Immigration Agency (BIA) has detected 384 fraudulently used UK passports. The records collated by IPS and BIA do not distinguish between biometric and earlier types of passport.

Police

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of service is of serving police officers in England.

Tony McNulty: The information requested cannot be calculated from the centrally collected data within the police personnel statistics series. Length of service data are collected in the following time bands only for police officers: less than six months, six months to one year, one to two years, two to three years, three to four years, four to five years, five to 10 years, 10 to 15 years, 15 to 20 years, 20 to 25 years, 25 to 26 years, 26 to 27 years, 27 to 28 years, 28 to 29 years, 29 to 30 years, 30 to 31 years, 31 to 32 years, 32 to 33 years, 33 to 34 years, 34 to 35 years, and 35 years and over.
	The length of service categories with the largest numbers of police officers have been given. There were approximately 25,000 full-time equivalent police officers in the 43 police forces of England and Wales with between five and 10 years service, approximately 21,000 with 15 to 20 years service and approximately 20,000 with 10 to 15 years service as at 31 March 2007.

Police: Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving police officers there were in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Tony McNulty: h olding answer 18 December 2007
	Figures for Cumbria appear in the following table. Figures for Westmorland and Lonsdale are not collected centrally, as local area police personnel figures are collected at Basic Command Unit rather than constituency level.
	
		
			  Number of police officers in Cumbria: 1997-2007 
			   Police officers( 1) 
			  As at 31 March:  
			 1997 1,144 
			 1998 1,164 
			 1999 1,126 
			 2000 1,084 
			 2001 1,048 
			 2002 1,100 
			 2003 1,140 
			 2004 1,222 
			 2005 1,232 
			 2006 1,230 
			 2007 1,244 
			 (1 )All figures are full time equivalents (FTE) rounded to the nearest whole number. They exclude officers on maternity/paternity leave and career breaks.

Police: Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the likely effect of an influenza pandemic on the operational capacity of the police service.

Tony McNulty: The National Policing Improvement Agency is working with the Department of Health to ensure that the appropriate guidance on pandemic flu is available to all police forces. It advises all police staff, and their families, about how they can protect themselves against the disease and prevent the spread of the infection.
	The Government have not made an assessment of the operational capacity of the Police Service should a serious outbreak of pandemic flu occur as this would be a matter for individual Chief Constables.

Police: Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) statutory instruments,  (b) departmental circulars and  (c) other documents she (i) has issued and (ii) plans to issue in the next 12 months consequential to the provisions of police legislation passed since 1996.

Tony McNulty: In the next 12 months I intend to lay before Parliament a number of statutory instruments regarding the Police and Justice Act 2006. In early 2008 I intend to lay four sets of regulations regarding the membership, functions and planning obligations of police authorities and in spring and autumn I intend to lay orders commencing various uncommenced provisions of that Act.
	Since 1996 the Government have enacted 12 pieces of police legislation which have effect in England and Wales, and several Statutory Instruments consequential to these. 65 Home Office circulars have been issued in regard to these acts. In relation to other documents consequential to these acts, these details are not kept centrally.
	A document has been prepared with a full list of these statutory instruments and Home Office circulars, and will be placed in the Library of the House.

Police: Manpower

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers worked in each London borough in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by  (a) ethnicity,  (b) age and  (c) sex.

Tony McNulty: These breakdowns are not collected centrally at London borough level.

Police: Manpower

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many police community support officers were employed in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since they were introduced;
	(2)  how many  (a) police sergeants,  (b) special constables and  (c) traffic police officers were employed in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) England in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many police officers were employed in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The available information is given in the following tables. Statistics for Jarrow constituency are not available centrally and figures for South Tyneside relate to the South Tyneside basic command unit.
	
		
			  Number of police officers and staff in South Tyneside, North-East region and England: 1997  to  2007 
			  Table A: South Tyneside basic command unit (BCU) 
			   Police officers (FTE)( 1)  Police sergeants (FTE)  Special constables (HC)  Traffic police officers (FTE)  Police community support officers (FTE)( 1,)( )( 2) 
			 31 March 2005 346 — 26 — — 
			 30 June 2005 — — — — 13 
			 31 March 2006 352 — 25 — — 
			 30 June 2006 — — — — 12 
			 31 March 2007 362 — 23 — 25 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: North East Region 
			   Police officers (FTE)( 1,)( )( 3)  Police sergeants (FTE)( 1,3)  Special constables (HC)( 4)  Traffic police officers (FTE)( 1,)( )( 5)  Police community support officers (FTE)( 1) 
			 31 March 1997 6,597 952 877 — — 
			 31 March 1998 6,767 966 708 — — 
			 31 March 1999 6,824 955 627 — — 
			 31 March 2000 6,750 942 617 — — 
			 31 March 2001 6,859 937 539 — — 
			 31 March 2002 7,004 959 475 — — 
			 31 March 2003 7,272 990 417 — 47 
			 31 March 2004 7,459 1,004 335 — 156 
			 31 March 2005 7,515 1,045 397 275 270 
			 31 March 2006 7,485 1,084 445 333 296 
			 31 March 2007 7,425 1,097 487 344 504 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: England 
			   Police officers (FTE)( 1,)( )( 6)  Police sergeants (FTE)( 1,)( )( 3)  Special constables (HC)( 4)  Traffic police officers (FTE)( 1,)( )( 5)  Police community support officers (FTE)( 1) 
			 31 March 1997 118,459 17,743 18,732 — — 
			 31 March 1998 118,184 17,585 17,159 — — 
			 31 March 1999 117,196 17,715 15,396 — — 
			 31 March 2000 115,323 17,438 13,512 — — 
			 31 March 2001 116,440 17,489 11,949 — — 
			 31 March 2002 120,074 17,518 10,897 — — 
			 31 March 2003 124,158 17,664 10,449 — 1,146 
			 31 March 2004 129,691 17,868 10,359 — 3,309 
			 31 March 2005 131,950 19,220 11,285 6,548 5,946 
			 31 March 2006 132,104 19,946 12,431 5,942 6,498 
			 31 March 2007 132,474 20,736 13,221 5,832 12,856 
			 '—' Figures not collected centrally. (1) Full-time equivalents, rounded to the nearest whole number. (2) Figures for PCSOs at ECU level for 30 June 2005 and 30 June 2006 were obtained via an ad hoc collection, and are not necessarily consistent with those for 30 March 2007. (3) Excludes officers on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave prior to 2003 only. (4) Head count figures (FTE figures not appropriate for special constables). (5) Number of officers with the predominant function 'traffic' over the previous 12 months. (6) Excludes officers on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave over whole period.

Police: Retirement

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average age of retirement was for police officers in England retiring in the last 12 months; and what average pension is being paid to those officers.

Tony McNulty: An average retirement age cannot be separately identified from the available data. The available data are the age on leaving the service within the following time bands only: 25 and under, 26 to 40, 41 to 55 and over 55. Information about the average pension being paid to officers retiring in a particular year is not held centrally. The size of an officer's annual pension depends largely on his or her pensionable pay, and length of pensionable service. Under the Police Pension Scheme 1987, a lump sum is not paid out automatically but only where the officer chooses to convert (commute) part of his or her pension into a lump sum. The size of a lump sum therefore depends on the officer's annual pension, the proportion of pension that the officer chooses to commute, and the commutation factor to be applied to the surrendered portion of pension in order to convert it into a lump sum. A typical officer, retiring after 30 years' service on a final pensionable pay of £34,080 (the 2006-07 pensionable maximum for an officer of constable rank outside London), would be entitled to a pension of £17,040 per annum and a lump sum of £85,200, based on the officer commuting the maximum possible proportion of his or her pension, and using the most substantial factor. Based on the available data, the indications are that the average pre-commutation pension would be in the region of £21,500.

Police: Retirement

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were  (a) offered early retirement schemes and  (b) accepted early retirement schemes in each of the last 10 years.

Tony McNulty: A police officer who is a member of the Police Pension Scheme 1987 is entitled to retire with an ordinary pension after 25 years' service, payable from the age of 50. An officer who is a member of the 1987 scheme can also retire with a full and immediate pension at any age once he or she has accrued 30 years' service. The earliest age from which this would normally be possible is 48&frac12;, given the minimum entry age of 18&frac12; for the police service. Unless an officer becomes permanently disabled for police duty, and is required to retire on ill health grounds, there is no specific early retirement scheme. In order to qualify for an ordinary pension, officers must in all cases, however, provide the police authority with one month's notice of their intention to retire, or three months in the case of chief officer ranks, although it is at the discretion of the police authority to accept a shorter notice period. As it is a matter for local discretion, there are no centrally held data on its frequency of use.

Project Semaphore

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which carriers provide both travel document information and passenger name record data under Project Semaphore.

Liam Byrne: A number of carriers do provide both travel document information and other passenger information under Project Semaphore. The use of that data is operationally sensitive and it would not be appropriate for those details to be released.

Prosecutions: Driving Under the Influence

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists were  (a) stopped on suspicion of drink-driving and  (b) prosecuted for drink-driving on UK roads last year.

Vernon Coaker: Information relating to Northern Ireland and Scotland is the responsibility respectively of the Northern Ireland Office and the Scottish Government.
	Information on stops for suspected drink driving in England and Wales is not collected centrally. Available information relates to the number of screening breath tests and the number of prosecutions for driving after consuming alcohol or taking drug. In 2005, the latest period for which figures are available, there were 607,400 screening breath tests and 103,482 prosecutions. Data for 2006 will be available next year.

Public Order Act 1986

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) prosecutions have been made and  (b) convictions obtained for offences under sections 21 and 22 of the Public Order Act 1986 in the last three years for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under sections 21 and 22 of the Public Order Act 1986( 1, 2) , England and Wales( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Distributing, showing or playing a recording intended or likely to stir up racial hatred. (Public Order Act 1986 S.21)  Broadcasting or including a programme in programme service intended or likely to stir up racial hatred. (Public Order Act 1986 S.22) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 2004 — — — 1 
			 2005 — 1 2 1 
			 2006 — — — 2 
			 (1) These data are provided on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) The found guilty column may exceed those proceeded against as a defendant can be found guilty in a different year, or for a different offence to the one for which proceedings are originally brought.  Source: Court Proceedings Database, Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Ministry of Justice.

Sexual Offences

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered  (a) sex offenders and  (b) paedophiles were resident in each police authority area in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Data on registered sexual offenders is published in local multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) Annual Reports which are available in the House Libraries and on the internet at:
	www.probation.justice.gov.uk
	These reports record that the number of registered sexual offenders in each police force area in England and Wales over the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Area  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Avon and Somerset 525 671 674 787 809 
			 Bedfordshire 220 270 335 394 323 
			 Cambridgeshire 282 322 353 387 407 
			 Cheshire 390 429 474 537 577 
			 County Durham 240 265 306 327 348 
			 Cumbria 208 231 253 260 280 
			 Derbyshire 459 479 554 628 609 
			 Devon and Cornwall 637 725 808 879 920 
			 Dorset 273 333 352 379 415 
			 Dyfed-Powys 199 232 275 308 299 
			 Essex 440 542 680 802 735 
			 Gloucestershire 196 231 284 311 311 
			 Greater Manchester 1,278 1,388 1,800 1,643 1,722 
			 Gwent 278 319 365 391 406 
			 Hampshire 849 999 1,035 1,118 1,190 
			 Hertfordshire 225 280 328 428 400 
			 Humberside 544 584 645 715 653 
			 Kent 730 780 954 941 983 
			 Lancashire 637 726 980 941 998 
			 Leicestershire 413 484 508 543 534 
			 Lincolnshire 250 328 380 401 414 
			 London 2,085 2,272 2,657 3,113 3,151 
			 Merseyside 657 791 941 970 975 
			 Norfolk 416 484 547 637 546 
			 North Wales 348 308 389 395 405 
			 North Yorkshire 234' 283 315 338 359 
			 Northamptonshire 200 246 310 344 355 
			 Northumbria 632 750 851 898 870 
			 Nottinghamshire 607 651 708 712 747 
			 South Wales 545 606 765 680 695 
			 South Yorkshire 577 682 911 791 830 
			 Staffordshire 365 458 538 627 676 
			 Suffolk 279 309 368 393 413 
			 Surrey 277 371 371 390 426 
			 Sussex 553 581 752 804 789 
			 Teesside 303 339 393 354 357 
			 Thames Valley 563 763 822 936 982 
			 Warwickshire 183 183 231 232 259 
			 West Mercia 524 565 689 635 655 
			 West Midlands 1,312 1,647 2,158 1,925 1,850 
			 West Yorkshire 1,227 1,431 1,669 1,373 1,387 
			 Wiltshire 255 234 266 316 356 
			 Total 21,415 24,572 28,994 29,983 30,416 
		
	
	Data on the number of paedophiles are not collected as the term "paedophile" is not used in the criminal law. Instead, the law sets out various requirements, including registration, for those who are convicted or cautioned for a wide range of sexual offences. Some offences are defined by the age of the victim but for other offences the age of the victim is immaterial. The data in the annual reports include all registered sexual offenders.

Speed Cameras

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment has been made of the accuracy and consistency of the LTI 20-20 speed camera system.

Vernon Coaker: Under the provisions of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 certain traffic law enforcement devices require type approval by the Secretary of State before evidence from them is admissible in court. Type approval is granted only to devices that comply with the specification laid down by the HO Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) and successfully complete both field and scientific testing. The type approval process provides a public reassurance that a device is accurate, consistent and reliable. Three variants of the LTI 20.20 system were type approved in the 1990s. We are satisfied that the device merits its type approval and have seen no reason to conduct further assessments.

Speed Enforcement Operations

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's requirements are for the visibility and conspicuousness of speed enforcement operations; whether all police forces are subject to such rules; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Speed limit enforcement is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. The law requires only that the speed limits should be correctly signed in accordance with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 as amended.
	The Department for Transport as the lead Department for road safety issued on 31 January 2007 new guidance for local authorities, police and other local partners on the deployment of speed and red light cameras. A copy of this has been placed in the Library and is also available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/speedmanagement/pdfdftcirc0107
	This guidance sets out the Government's intention of high visibility speed enforcement and encourages the use of visibility and conspicuity rules which have been shown to reduce speeds and casualties at camera sites. It does not, however, restrict or fetter the discretion which the police have always had to enforce covertly anywhere at any time.

Stop and Search

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stop and account forms have been issued since their introduction in each police force area.

Tony McNulty: From 1 April 2005, police officers exercising stop and account powers in accordance with paragraphs 4.11—4.20 of the PACE Code of Practice on exercise by police officers of statutory powers of stop and search (Code A) have been required to maintain a record of each encounter. Issues relating to the quality and completeness of the 2005-06 figures mean they remain subject to further work before they can be published.

Stowaways

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were seized as stowaways in trucks in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 November 2007
	 Only figures for 2001-06 are available. Illegal entry action is initiated against those people who are detected having entered or attempted to enter the country clandestinely. The following figures include those illegal entrants detected at ports of entry only.
	
		
			   Total 
			 2001 3,799 
			 2002 5,666 
			 2003 3,127 
			 2004 4,284 
			 2005 5,876 
			 2006 7,552 
			  Note: The data provided are based on locally collated management information, which may be subject to change and does not represent published national statistics. 
		
	
	The above figures represent those arriving within heavy goods vehicles at ports in the United Kingdom. Additionally, they include clandestines detected in France during 2001-03 in Coquelles and from 2004 in Calais, Coquelles and Dunkerque.

Terrorism

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what criteria she uses to decide whether national or regional liberation movements should be proscribed organisations under terrorism legislation;
	(2)  for what reasons the Baluchistan National Liberation Army was proscribed as a terrorist organisation; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 17 December 2007
	The grounds for proscription as a terrorist organisation are set out in section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000. They are that the Secretary of State believes the organisation to be concerned in terrorism. An organisation is considered to be concerned in terrorism if it:
	(a) commits or participates in acts of terrorism,
	(b) prepares for terrorism,
	(c) promotes or encourages terrorism, or
	(d) is otherwise concerned in terrorism.
	If an organisation meets the criteria for proscription, the Secretary of State then has a discretion as to whether or not to proscribe. In exercising that discretion successive Secretaries of State have had regard to five factors in particular. They are:
	1. The nature and scale of an organisation's activities
	2. The specific threat that it poses to the United Kingdom
	3. The specific threat that it poses to British nationals overseas
	4. The extent of the organisation's presence in the United Kingdom
	5. The need to support other members of the international community in the global fight against terrorism.
	The Baluchistan Liberation Army was proscribed in 2006 because it met the criteria for proscription. In this regard I would refer the hon. Member to the Explanatory Memorandum to the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2006.

Terrorism: Olympic Games 2012

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential terrorist threat to the Olympic Games.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 17 December 2007
	All threats to the Olympics Games, including the potential terrorist threat, are kept under regular review.

Violence Against the Person

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the relationship between  (a) recorded and  (b) estimated actual levels of (i) violence against the person, (ii) rape, (iii) personal robbery, (iv) commercial robbery, (v) residential burglary, (vi) non-residential burglary, (vii) gun-related crime, (viii) motor vehicle crime, (ix) domestic crime and (x) racial crime in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The precise information requested is not available. Estimates based on crimes covered by the British Crime Survey (BCS) and experienced by households, and adults living in such households, in England and Wales are routinely reported in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Crime in England and Wales. The latest breakdown for the main offences covered by the BCS can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb1107.pdf.
	Latest estimates for commercial victims were reported in the Home Office report Crime against retail and manufacturing premises: findings from the 2002 Commercial Victimisation Survey and can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr3705.pdf.

Visas

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the UK's implementation of the provisions of EU Directive 2004/38/EC, with particular reference to the charging of fees to those applying for spousal visas from outside the EU by UK Visas; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The UK has fully and correctly implemented EU Directive 2004/38/EC This directive sets out the rights of movement for EEA nationals and their family members around the EU. Applications for visas to enter and documentation confirming status in the UK are currently not chargeable cases as the directive prohibits a charge being levied where no charge is placed on our own nationals for a similar document. All other applications for entry clearance or leave to remain on the basis of marriage or a subsisting relationship must be accompanied by the appropriate fee.

TREASURY

Alcoholic Drinks: Death

Alan Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths from an alcohol-related underlying cause took place in  (a) each nation of the UK,  (b) each region of England and  (c) Darlington in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths from an alcohol-related cause took place in  (a) each country of the UK,  (b) each region of England and  (c) Darlington in each of the last 10 years. (175157)
	The table attached provides the number of deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause in  (a) each country of the United Kingdom,  (b) each government office region in England, and  (c) Darlington unitary authority, from 1997 to 2006 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause of death( 1) , constituent countries of the United Kingdom, Government office regions in England, and Darlington unitary authority( 2) ,1997 to 2006( 3) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 England 4,437 4,762 4,935 5,044 5,476 5,582 5,981 6,036 6,191 6,517 
			 Wales 294 288 319 339 385 363 414 416 407 430 
			 Scotland 1,061 1,127 1,249 1,292 1,398 1,487 1,525 1,478 1,513 1,546 
			 Northern Ireland 152 158 174 190 206 238 208 255 246 248 
			
			  Government office region   
			 North East 323 331 307 326 337 337 387 426 402 435 
			 North West 860 878 922 931 1,040 1,054 1,105 1,166 1,173 1,209 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 405 431 446 419 489 475 573 615 643 679 
			 East Midlands 322 307 394 410 408 434 482 482 506 505 
			 West Midlands 497 583 578 588 655 697 737 743 776 801 
			 East of England 319 404 390 426 441 456 484 485 492 556 
			 London 732 773 806 794 787 832 826 758 744 824 
			 South East 607 646 664 700 824 808 870 832 874 921 
			 South West 372 409 428 450 495 489 517 529 581 587 
			
			  Darlington UA 13 11 13 7 15 16 9 19 13 17 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for the years 1997 to 2000, and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) for 2001 onwards, for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and ICD-9 for the years 1997 to 1999 and ICD-10 for the years 2000 to 2006 for Scotland. The specific causes of death categorised as alcohol-related, and their corresponding ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes, are shown in the following tables. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2007. (3) All figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year, in line with current guidance on disclosure of small area statistics. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Alcohol-related causes of death—International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) 
			  Cause of death  ICD-9 code(s) 
			 Alcoholic psychoses 291 
			 Alcohol dependence syndrome 303 
			 Non-dependent abuse of alcohol 305.0 
			 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy 425.5 
			 Alcoholic fatty liver 571.0 
			 Acute alcoholic hepatitis 571.1 
			 Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver 571.2 
			 Alcoholic liver damage, unspecified 571.3 
			 Chronic hepatitis 571.4 
			 Cirrhosis of liver without mention of alcohol 571.5 
			 Other chronic non-alcoholic liver disease 571.8 
			 Unspecified chronic liver disease without mention of alcohol 571.9 
			 Accidental poisoning by alcohol E860 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Alcohol-related causes of death—International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) 
			  Cause of death  ICD-10 code(s) 
			 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol F10 
			 Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol G31.2 
			 Alcoholic polyneuropathy G62.1 
			 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy I42.6 
			 Alcoholic gastritis K29.2 
			 Alcoholic liver disease K70 
			 Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified K73 
			 Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver (excluding Biliary cirrhosis) K74 (excluding K74.3 to K74.5) 
			 Alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis K86.0 
			 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X45 
			 Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X65 
			 Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent Y15

Capital Gains Tax

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he made of the effect of proposed changes to capital gains tax on gross revenue raised by the tax when developing the proposals; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates of the revenue effect to the Exchequer of proposed changes to capital gains tax are published in Table B4 of the 2007 pre-Budget report.

Car Allowances

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much his Department has spent on the review of approved mileage allowance payments to date; which non-governmental individuals and organisations the review team has met since the 2007 Pre-Budget Report was published; what liaison there has been between the review team and  (a) the Department for Transport and  (b) the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on this; and what discussions there have been between his Department and trades union representatives on the use of private cars for work purposes by public sector employees as part of the review;
	(2)  what account he plans to take of the levels of carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles when next amending the approved mileage allowance payments scheme;
	(3)  what the reasons were for the extension of the approved mileage allowance payments review; and whether the conclusions of the review will be included in the Budget Report 2008;
	(4)  what effect the increases in advisory fuel rates agreed by HM Revenue and Customs on 29 November 2007 will have on his Department's review of approved mileage allowance payments;
	(5)  whether his Department has conducted further research into the average mileage driven for work purposes since the 2007 Pre-Budget Report;
	(6)  whether the approved mileage allowance payments review will take into account the effect of rising fuel costs on workers who have to use their own cars for work purposes;
	(7)  what account has been taken of the needs of those who live in rural areas and have to use their car for work purposes in the approved mileage allowance payments review;
	(8)  whether he plans to use the approved mileage allowance payments review to incentivise the purchase of newer vehicles by employers; and what effect the review will have on the access of employees to a provided vehicle, with particular reference to those working in the care sector.

Angela Eagle: AMAPs cater for a wide range of car drivers and the rates are designed to take into account all relevant factors. They strike a balance between allowing the running costs of all cars, large and small and delivering the Government's environmental policy.
	The Government wants to ensure that the tax system properly reflects and supports business activity, in addition to promoting fairness and environmentally friendly business travel. We intend to consider the framework of taxation of cars used for business travel as a whole and confirmed at PBR that we will make announcements on future policy in this area, including AMAPs, in Budget 2008.
	As a matter of routine, HM Revenue and Customs has liaised with other relevant Government Departments. A range of stakeholder views has also been canvassed—including from industry and user group representatives—and the Government made it clear at PBR that it will continue to consider further representations in the approach to the Budget.

Car Allowances: Public Sector

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's policy is on the tax treatment of the provision of cars for public sector employees.

Angela Eagle: The same tax rules apply to the provision of cars for all employees whether in the public or private sector.

Carers: Census

Jessica Morden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that no change is made in information requested about carers in the 2011 census return from that requested in the 2001 census return.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I am replying to your recent question asking that no change is made in information requested about carers in the 2011 census return from the 2001 census return. (175296)
	The value of the information on carers provided by the 2001 Census is well recognised. However, such a question is competing for space on the questionnaire with a number of other questions such as second residence, citizenship, year of entry, qualifications, industry, income and language.
	Our current funding for the 2011 Census allows for 3 pages of questions per person. We are at present investigating the potential for obtaining increasing funding for a 4th page which would allow for the inclusion a question on carers.
	A White Paper setting out the Government's proposals for the 2011 Census is scheduled to be published in autumn 2008. However, it will not be possible to confirm what questions and response categories are to be included in the 2011 Census until the consultation and question testing programme is complete and formal approval is given by Parliament in 2010.

Census

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether the European Commission or Eurostat will have access to the data collected by the 2011 census;
	(2)  what the timetable is for the census test and the publication of the conclusions from it;
	(3)  what research and work is being conducted by the Office for National Statistics into measuring multiple occupancy for the forthcoming census;
	(4)  whether the Office for National Statistics plans to use  (a) the Ordnance Survey MasterMap product and  (b) the National Land and Property Gazetteer in undertaking the next census as the address source for residential properties.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking (i) whether the European Commission or Eurostat will have access to the data collected in the 2011 Census; (ii) what the timetable is for the Census test and the publication of the conclusions from it; (iii) whether the Office for National Statistics plans to use  (a) the Ordnance Survey MasterMap product and  (b) the National Land and Property Gazetteer in undertaking the next Census as the address source for residential properties; and (iv) what research and work is being conducted into measuring multiple occupancy for the forthcoming Census. (176378, 176413, 176419, 176421)
	As in previous censuses, statistics from the 2011 round of European censuses, including the UK Census, will be provided to Eurostat as part of a Programme to be agreed by the EU Statistics Programme Committee, on which, as National Statistician, I am represented. The statistics to be provided by each member state will be subject to appropriate National Statistics disclosure control measures that will protect the data from disclosure of any information that would identify an individual person or household.
	A full Evaluation of the Census Test, which was carried out in May, will be published in spring 2008. An initial report on the results of an address checking exercise carried out as part of the Test—'The Coverage of address Registers for 2007 Census Test—Phase 1' is available on the National Statistics website at
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census/2011census/CollectingtheInfo/testingevaluation.asp
	ONS is carrying out further research in order to determine the best approach for ensuring that the 2011 Census is supported by the most complete and up-to-date address information. There is currently no single definitive national address register for England and Wales that fulfils Census requirements. For the 2011 Census there is a need to assess the two competing address products, Ordnance Survey's MasterMap Address Layer 2 (AL2) and the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG). A final decision on the 2011 approach to create the initial address list will be made in 2009, on the basis of research of the address products, and ongoing discussions with suppliers about licensing costs.
	A number of questions are being developed for the 2011 Census in England and Wales that will seek to collect information on multi-occupancy. These cover the type of accommodation and the extent of self-containment. ONS is developing a household frame for the 2011 Census, and will conduct a pre-Census address check, that will identify such addresses; so that the appropriate number of household forms are delivered to each address. Information from local authorities about areas with high levels of multiple occupancy will also be used to inform the enumeration methodology.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people whose data were on the child benefit discs have yet to be sent a letter of apology.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs have sent letters of apology to the vast majority of households where personal data relating to the child benefit recipient, their partner and their children were on the discs.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date HM Revenue and Customs staff first searched premises of the National Audit Office looking for the missing computer discs.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC detection teams first searched the NAO offices at 151-157 Buckingham Palace Road on 14 November 2007.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he received directly from banks requesting a postponement of the announcement of the loss of computer discs containing the personal data of child benefit claimants.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made on 20 November 2007,  Official Report , column 1102.
	Kieran Poynter, chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers, is investigating HMRC's security processes and procedures for data handling.
	The interim report was published on 17 December 2007 and is available in the Library of the House.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls have been received by the Child Benefit helpline since the loss of personal records by HM Revenue and Customs; and what the average length was of these calls.

Jane Kennedy: The number of calls, specifically relating to data loss, handled by the Child Benefit Helpline between 20 November and 18 December 2007 is around 71,000.
	Over this same period the average call handling time for these calls, taken as the length of the conversation together with the time taken by the adviser to complete any resulting tasks, is around two and a half minutes.

Childbirth

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which years since 1977 the number of live births in England exceeded the number of births in England in 2006.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your request to indicate in which years since 1977 the number of live births in England exceeded the number of births in England in 2006. (176885)
	There were 635,748 births in England in 2006. This was exceeded in each of the years from 1987 to 1993.

Civil Servants: North East Region

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of civil service jobs in the north-east were at each grade in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what proportion of Civil Service jobs in the North East are at each grade. (174693)
	Statistics on Civil Service employment, including regional statistics, are published in Civil Service Statistics, an on-line article available from the National Statistics website.
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/ai1icle.asp?id:=l885
	The latest period for which the statistics are available is the year to September 2006.
	Statistics on responsibility level by region are not published. In order to provide this information, an ad hoc analysis has been required. This analysis is based on the Mandate survey which currently provides approximately 90 per cent coverage of Civil Service departments and agencies.
	
		
			  Civil service—employees in the north-east by responsibility level, 30 September 2006 
			  Full-time equivalents 
			  Responsibility level  Percentage 
			 Senior civil service 0.2 
			 Grades 6/7 2.1 
			 Senior executive officer/higher executive officer 9.3 
			 Executive Officer 20.7 
			 Administrative officer/administrative assistant 66.2 
			 Not known 1.5 
			  Source:  Mandate 
		
	
	Please note that since 1 April 1996 all departments and agencies have had delegated responsibility for the pay and grading of their employees, except for those in the Senior Civil Service (SCS).
	Departments and agencies have developed their own pay and grading systems, and it has become less appropriate to present statistics in terms of the previous Service-wide grades.
	The distinction between non-industrial and industrial grades has also become less meaningful as departments and agencies have introduced their own grades.
	Instead, the concept of broad 'responsibility levels' is used, in which departmental grades have been assigned to levels broadly equivalent (in terms of pay and job weight) to the former Service-wide grades and in recent years it has become necessary to amalgamate some of these broad levels further.
	Employees on temporary promotion are reported at the higher level rather than at their substantive grade.

Climate Change

Rob Marris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take by (i) 2012 and (ii) 2020 to adapt to the effects of climate change as they affect his Departmental responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 6 December 2007
	The draft Climate Change Bill, which has just been introduced into Parliament, proposes to set out a requirement for the Government to produce the first UK risk assessment on climate change within three years. Following this, it is proposed that the Government will update the risk report and programme on a five-yearly basis, with one informing the other.
	In addition, the cross-Government Adaptation Policy Framework will set out the Government's overall intentions in relation to adapting to the effects of climate change.
	As a result of the impacts of climate change, the annual costs of flooding to homes, businesses and infrastructure could increase. The Government announced in the 2007 comprehensive spending review that funding for flood and coastal erosion risk management across Government will increase to £800 million in 2010-11. The Government will also introduce an adaptation toolkit of £10 million per year to assist communities in adapting to change where constructing defences is not the most appropriate means of managing flood and coastal erosion risk.

Customs Officers: Job Satisfaction

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of levels of staff satisfaction amongst customs officers in HM Revenue and Customs; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The latest staff survey figures for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are for summer 2007 and are available on the HMRC website.

Customs Officers: Manpower

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs customs officers were employed combating  (a) missing trader intra-community and  (b) excise fraud in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: There are no separate group of staff identified as "customs officers".
	The full-time equivalents (FYE) of staff employed to tackle missing trader intra-community fraud for 2005-06 to 2006-07 and fraud in alcohol, oils and tobacco for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are shown in the following table (figures for 2003-04 to 2004-05 are not available).
	
		
			   MTIC  Excise 
			 2003-04 n/a n/a 
			 2004-05 n/a n/a 
			 2005-06 691 3167 
			 2006-07 1,410 3,201

Departmental Data Protection

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many officials in  (a) his Department and  (b) HM Revenue and Customs are responsible for monitoring and reviewing security arrangements to ensure that policy, standards and procedures for information security remain up-to-date;
	(2)  what dedicated security branches  (a) the Inland Revenue and  (b) HM Customs and Excise had; and how many officials were assigned to each of them;
	(3)  what dedicated security branches HM Revenue and Customs has; and how many officials are assigned to them.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC Security and Business Continuity is responsible for setting standards and policy, for providing specialist advice and guidance and personnel security vetting, and providing independent assurance on security business continuity within the Department. This central role is in addition to the responsibility of individual business units to maintain and monitor security arrangements.
	At 1 December 2007 there were  (a) 7.2 officials in HM Treasury's Group Security Unit and  (b) 73 officials working in HM Revenue and Customs' Security and Business Continuity Team. In addition, it is the responsibility of each individual line manager to ensure that their staff follow the department's security procedures.
	The Inland Revenue had a Departmental Security Unit comprising 41 officials.
	HM Customs and Excise had a Departmental Security Unit comprising 50 officials.
	The figures quoted are on the basis of full-time equivalent staff in post, rounded to the nearest whole number, as at 31 March 2005.

Departmental ICT

James Brokenshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many attempted hacking, suspected cyber attacks or other malicious computer security breaches were committed against the computer systems of  (a) his Department and ( b) HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last three years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their IT systems. This would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK's IT defences. This is not in the public interest.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Winter Supplementary Estimates (HC 29), if he will break down his Department's  (a) main estimate and  (b) winter supplementary estimate provision by subhead in (i) near cash and (ii) non-cash terms.

Angela Eagle: The following table sets out the near cash and non-cash elements of HM Treasury's 2007-08 Supply Estimates.
	
		
			  £000 
			  Estimate  RfR  Section  Near cash  Non cash  Net Total 
			 Main 1 A 120,692 6,916 127,608 
			  — B 9,680 1,070 10,750 
			  — C 3,305 0 3,305 
			  — D 1,656 0 1,656 
			  2 A 19,000 0 19,000 
			  3 A 25,253 1,884 27,137 
			 Winter 1 A 126,720 6,916 133,636 
			  — B 9,680 1,070 10,750 
			  — C 3,305 0 3,305 
			  — D 1,656 0 1,656 
			  2 A 19,000 0 19,000 
			  3 A 31,793 3,835 35,628

Departmental Redundancies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of redundancies in his Department in the 12 months preceding  (a) 30 June 2004,  (b) 30 June 2005 and  (c) 30 June 2006.

Angela Eagle: As provided in the answer given by the then Financial Secretary (John Healey) on 2 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1574W, the costs of early severance and early retirement for the Department during the financial years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 are as follows.
	
		
			   £000 
			 2003-04 2,926 
			 2004-05 2,178 
			 2005-06 973 
		
	
	Costs for the financial year 2005-06 have been restated to take account of programme early retirement costs, previously omitted in error. Reapportioned costs for 12-month periods, with a 30 June year-end, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Secondment

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many secondments of staff were made  (a) to and  (b) from his Department in each year since 1997; which organisations staff were seconded (i) to and (ii) from; how many staff were seconded in each year; for how long each secondment lasted; and what the cost was of each secondment in each year.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) Secondments to the Department
	Organisations who have seconded employees to the Department since 1997 are:
	3i
	Accenture
	Army
	Arthur Anderson
	Audit Commission
	Australian Department of Finance
	Australian Treasury
	Bank of England
	Bechtel
	BP
	Brunswick Public Relations
	BZW
	Camden Council
	Christian Action Research and Education
	City of London
	Clifford Chance
	Competition Commission
	Coopers/Lybrand
	Deloitte Touche
	Dilston Management
	English Nature
	Ernst and Young
	Estonian Ministry of Finance
	European Commission
	Financial Services Authority
	Health Development Agency
	HM Forces
	Housing Corporation
	Institute of Financial Services
	Institute of Fiscal Studies
	IPPR
	Irish Finance Ministry
	Japanese Finance Ministry
	Kent County Council
	KPMG
	Legal Services Commission
	Local Government Management Board
	London Borough of Lewisham
	London Borough of Tower Hamlets
	LSE
	Manpower
	Midland Bank
	Morgan Stanley Asia
	National Audit Office
	NCVO
	New Zealand Reserve Bank
	New Zealand Treasury
	NHS
	NS and I
	Pannell Kerr Foster
	Partnerships UK
	Patent Office
	Price Waterhouse Coopers
	Quality Business Management
	Save the Children
	Slaughter and May
	Social Market Foundation
	Strategic Rail Authority
	Tarmac
	Thurrock District Council
	Tidy Britain Campaign
	Tresor
	UBS Warburg
	Women's Budget Group
	Woodrow Wyatt LLP.
	The number and average length of each secondment is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of secondments  Average length 
			 1997 14 1 year 7 months 
			 1998 18 1 year 6 months 
			 1999 13 1 year 7 months 
			 2000 12 1 year 6 months 
			 2001 11 1 year 3 months 
			 2002 11 1 year 4 months 
			 2003 14 1 year 7 months 
			 2004 12 1 year 5 months 
			 2005 15 1 year 2 months 
			 2006 23 11 months 
		
	
	 (b)  Secondments from the Department
	The Department has seconded employees to the following organisations:
	3i
	ABI
	Accenture
	Astra Zeneca
	Azerbaijan Ministry of Finance
	Bank of England
	Barclays Bank
	Barnados
	BBC
	British Cement Association
	British Embassy Washington
	Bromley by Bow Centre
	Capita RAS
	Centrica
	Charity Commission
	Church House
	Cisco Systems
	Civil Aviation Authority
	CML
	Commission for Racial Equality
	Commonwealth Secretariat
	Croydon Council
	Deloitte Touche
	�cole Nationale d'Administration
	Ernst and Young
	European Bank of Reconstruction and Development
	European Banking Federation
	European Commission
	French Finance Ministry
	Gartmore Investment Management plc
	German Chancellery
	German Finance Ministry
	Granada Media
	Greater London Authority
	Halifax Bank of Scotland
	HSBC
	IMF
	Institute of Fiscal Studies
	International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims
	International Monetary Fund
	Irish Finance Ministry
	Japanese Ministry of Finance
	Kent County Council
	KPMG
	Local Government Management Board
	London Borough of Brent
	London Borough of Camden
	London Borough of Croydon
	London Borough of Hackney
	London Borough of Lewisham
	London Development Agency
	London School of Economics
	Morgan Stanley
	National Electricity Code Administrator
	National Health Service
	New Zealand Treasury
	Ocean New Deal for Communities
	Ockham Holdings
	Oxfam
	Pannell Kerr Foster
	Personal Investment Authority
	RNID
	Royal Association of Disability and Rehabilitation
	Royal Bank of Scotland
	Sanetra
	Securities and Investment Board
	Social Enterprise Coalition
	Social Market Foundation
	South West of England Regional Development Agency
	Statistics Commission
	Strategic Planning Society
	Suffolk County Council
	Sweden Ministry of Finance
	Tesco
	The Giving Campaign
	The World Bank
	UK Business Incubation
	UKREP
	UN Economics Commission for Europe
	Vegan Society
	Whitehall and Industry Group
	Youth Justice Board.
	The number and average length of each secondment is as follows:
	
		
			  Year  Number of secondments  Average length 
			 1997 18 1 year 1 month 
			 1998 11 10 months 
			 1999 27 1 year 8 months 
			 2000 10 1 year 5 months 
			 2001 17 1 year 10 months 
			 2002 12 1 year 10 months 
			 2003 20 1 year 6 months 
			 2004 12 1 year 9 months 
			 2005 10 1 year 6 months 
			 2006 15 1 year 2 months

Direct Debits

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance has been provided by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Financial Services Authority to banks and building societies taking part in the direct debit guarantee on whether (a) the explicit consent of customers is needed and (b) customers should be informed in writing when a supplier or company wishes to increase the amount that can be deducted from the customer's bank account by direct debit.

Angela Eagle: Neither the Government nor the Financial Services Authority provides guidance to banks and building societies on the direct debit guarantee. This guarantee is an industry-developed scheme, operated by all banks and building societies that take part in the direct debit scheme. The efficiency and security of the scheme is monitored and protected by banks and building societies.

Disposable Income

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average UK household disposable income was in each of the last five years, broken down by region; what proportion of disposable income on average was spent on energy bills in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average UK household disposable income was in each of the last five years, broken down by region; and what proportion of disposable income on average was spent on energy bills in each year (175533).
	Estimates of average weekly household disposable income as well as expenditure on electricity, gas and other fuels appear in the ONS report Family Spending. The latest report for 2005/06 was published on the National Statistics website on 18th January 2007 at http://www:statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=361. Family Spending is the annual report on the Expenditure and Food Survey (EFS), an annual survey of approximately 7,000 households in the UK.
	Table 1 shows average weekly household disposable income for each region of the United Kingdom, while table 2 shows expenditure on electricity, gas and other fuels as a percentage of household disposable income for each of these regions.
	Both tables show data which have been averaged over three years, which is consistent with the presentation of regional data in Family Spending. Estimates which are based on smaller regional sub-samples are subject to larger sampling error, and so an average over three years provides more reliable estimates of regional income and expenditure. Three year averages covering three different time periods have been provided. Data are not available for earlier periods on a consistent basis due to changes in survey methodology which coincided with the introduction of the Expenditure and Food Survey which replaced the old Family Expenditure Survey in 2001-02.
	Household disposable income includes all income from wages and salaries, income from self-employment, income from investment, occupational pensions and social security benefits. All these incomes are recorded after the deduction of any income tax or national insurance contributions.
	
		
			  Table l: Average weekly household disposable income( 1,2,3) Three year averages , United Kingdom 
			   per week 
			   2001-04  2002-05  2003-06 
			 UK 453 469 484 
			 
			 North East 385 382 382 
			 North West 406 435 443 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 393 423 436 
			 East Midlands 439 454 463 
			 West Midlands 418 434 462 
			 East 478 500 525 
			 London 591 592 609 
			 South East 526 530 546 
			 South West 428 449 468 
			 Wales 388 400 411 
			 Scotland 412 429 445 
			 Northern Ireland 390 403 419 
			 (1) Based on weighted data. (2) Gross cash income less the statutory deductions and payments of income tax and national insurance contributions. (3) Government office regions.  Source: Expenditure and Food Survey, ONS. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:  Average weekly household expenditure on electricity, gas, and other fuels as a proportion of household disposable income( 1,2,3) Three year averages , United Kingdom 
			  Percentages 
			   2001-04  2002-05  2003-06 
			 UK 3 3 3 
			 
			 North East 3 3 3 
			 North West 3 3 3 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 3 3 3 
			 East Midlands 3 3 3 
			 West Midlands 3 3 3 
			 East 2 2 2 
			 London 2 2 2 
			 South East 2 2 2 
			 South West 3 3 3 
			 Wales 3 3 3 
			 Scotland 3 3 3 
			 Northern Ireland 4 4 4 
			 (1) Based on weighted data. (2) Gross cash income less the statutory deductions and payments of income tax and national insurance contributions. (3) Government office regions.  Source: Expenditure and Food Survey, ONS.

Divorce

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of divorced women over pension age who divorced  (a) aged under 30 years,  (b) aged 30 to 39 years,  (c) aged 40 to 49 years,  (d) aged 50 to 59 years and (e) aged 60 years or over.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your request for the number of divorced women over pension age who divorced (a) aged under 30 years, (b) aged 30 to 39 years, (c) aged 40 to 49 years, (d) aged 50 to 59 years and (e) aged 60 years or over. (175579)
	Population estimates by marital status are routinely available by age and sex. In 2006, there were an estimated 563,700 divorced women in England and Wales aged 60 and over. A breakdown of this figure by age at divorce is not routinely available. It could be provided only at disproportionate cost as women of pensionable age are not asked about their marital status history in large scale surveys and the census.

Employment

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the employment rate of  (a) men and  (b) women was in each region in each quarter of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about the employment rate of  (a) men and  (b) women in each region in each quarter of the last 10 years. (174729)
	Seasonally adjusted estimates for regional employment rates are published each month in the Labour Market Statistics First Release. Please visit the following link;
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/LMS_FR_HS/WebTable18SA.xls
	Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Employment

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the employment rate for  (a) men and  (b) women with fewer than five GCSEs at grade A to C or equivalent in each region was in each quarter for the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about the employment rate of (a) men and (b) women with fewer than 5 GCSEs at A-C grade or equivalent in each region in each quarter of the last 10 years. (174882)
	The attached table gives the percentage of people in the categories requested for the three month period ending June each year, from 2001 to 2007. Comparable estimates are not available prior to 2001.
	The LFS estimates at this detailed level are only consistent with the UK population estimates published in February and March 2003 arid they do not incorporate the more recent population estimates that are used in the headline LFS series.
	Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Working age population( 1 ) in employment rate( 2 ) with fewer than 5 GCSEs( 3,4 ) April to June 2001-07: Government Office Regions, not seasonally adjusted 
			UK  North East  North West  Yorkshire and the Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands 
			 2001 Male 70 62 65 66 74 70 
			  Female 59 53 58 59 60 57 
			  Total 64 57 61 62 66 63 
			 
			 2002 Male 69 56 62 67 74 71 
			  Female 58 55 57 57 62 56 
			  Total 64 55 60 62 68 63 
			 
			 2003 Male 71 60 68 71 75 71 
			  Female 58 49 57 57 60 56 
			  Total 64 54 62 64 67 63 
			 
			 2004 Male 69 59 65 68 71 69 
			  Female 58 50 58 58 59 57 
			  Total 63 54 61 63 65 62 
			 
			 2005 Male 69 60 65 68 71 71 
			  Female 57 52 54 58 58 57 
			  Total 63 56 59 63 64 64 
			 
			 2006 Male 69 60 62 69 72 69 
			  Female 56 53 53 57 60 55 
			  Total 63 56 57 63 66 62 
			 
			 2007 Male 70 63 65 68 72 68 
			  Female 56 49 51 54 58 53 
			  Total 63 56 58 61 65 61 
		
	
	
		
			East  London  South East  South West  Wales  Scotland  Northern Ireland 
			 2001 Male 79 67 79 76 62 64 61 
			  Female 66 52 68 65 53 57 45 
			  Total 72 59 73 70 57 60 53 
			  
			 2002 Male 78 66 80 78 65 61 58 
			  Female 65 50 66 67 52 59 43 
			  Total 71 58 73 72 58 60 50 
			  
			 2003 Male 79 67 77 76 64 64 61 
			  Female 64 49 64 65 58 60 46 
			  Total 71 58 70 70 61 62 53 
			  
			 2004 Male 77 66 77 76 65 65 58 
			  Female 65 48 62 64 55 60 46 
			  Total 71 57 69 70 60 62 51 
			  
			 2005 Male 77 65 77 75 63 67 60 
			  Female 63 49 63 66 55 57 50 
			  Total 70 57 70 70 59 62 55 
			  
			 2006 Male 74 66 78 75 64 64 62 
			  Female 61 44 64 65 54 58 48 
			  Total 67 55 71 70 59 60 55 
			  
			 2007 Male 77 67 76 73 67 70 66 
			  Female 60 47 64 66 52 61 49 
			  Total 68 57 70 70 59 65 58 
			 (1) Men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59. (2) Number of people in employment of working age, with fewer than five GCSEs as a percentage of all persons of working age with fewer than five GCSEs. (3) Includes all those of working age in employment with qualifications below NVQ level 2, including those with no qualifications. (4) Qualifications below NVQ Level 2 is equivalent to fewer than five GCSEs Note: Comparable data not available for 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Employment: Darlington

Alan Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the  (a) public expenditure consequences and  (b) economic effects of measures introduced to increase employment in Darlington since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The number of people on the key out of work benefits in Darlington has fallen by 21.5 per cent. since 1997, and the employment rate has risen by 3.8 per cent. over the same period. At a national level, the Government now spend 5 billion a year less on unemployment benefits than in 1996-97. The success of the new deal has contributed to this saving, and the National Audit Office estimates that national income has grown by between 216 million and 360 million as a result of the new deal.

Employment: Disabled

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the employment rate for disabled  (a) men and  (b) women was in each region in each quarter of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 7 January 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the employment rate for disabled a) men and b) women in each region in each quarter of the last 10 years. I am replying in her absence. (174883)
	The attached table gives the percentage of people in the categories requested for the three month period ending June each year, from 1999 to 2007. Comparable estimates are not available for 1997, 1998 and 2000.
	The LFS estimates at this detailed level are only consistent with the UK population estimates published in February and March 2003 and they do not incorporate the more recent population estimates that are used in the headline LFS series.
	Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Employment rate( 1)  of working age( 2)  disabled( 3)  peopleApril to June 1999-2007Government office regions, not seasonally adjusted 
			   United Kingdom  North East  North West  Yorkshire and the Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East  London  South East  South West  Wales  Scotland  Northern Ireland 
			  1999  
			 Male 48 34 44 47 50 50 58 45 64 60 38 36 30 
			 Female 45 32 38 45 46 46 50 46 55 54 39 40 28 
			 Total 46 33 41 46 48 48 54 46 59 57 38 38 29 
			   
			  2001  
			 Male 49 37 45 46 51 49 56 50 64 57 35 41 37 
			 Female 44 35 44 44 46 43 53 42 57 52 32 39 28 
			 Total 47 36 45 45 49 46 55 46 61 54 34 40 33 
			   
			  2002  
			 Male 49 36 46 50 53 53 60 48 64 57 40 38 36 
			 Female 46 38 45 43 49 47 56 43 57 57 38 35 32 
			 Total 48 36 45 47 51 51 58 45 61 57 39 37 34 
			   
			  2003  
			 Male 51 43 47 51 56 52 59 47 63 57 44 46 39 
			 Female 46 35 46 48 48 44 52 40 55 57 41 42 32 
			 Total 49 39 47 50 52 48 56 44 59 57 43 44 36 
			   
			  2004  
			 Male 52 39 48 53 55 54 61 48 66 61 43 48 39 
			 Female 47 38 44 46 48 49 57 41 55 52 42 46 26 
			 Total 50 39 46 50 51 52 59 44 61 57 43 47 33 
			   
			  2005  
			 Male 51 40 47 51 55 53 60 44 64 58 44 50 35 
			 Female 48 41 46 49 50 46 55 42 60 57 42 45 32 
			 Total 50 41 46 50 53 50 57 43 62 57 43 47 34 
			   
			  2006  
			 Male 52 43 46 53 55 52 60 45 63 61 43 47 42 
			 Female 48 42 47 48 56 46 53 42 57 54 44 46 31 
			 Total 50 43 47 51 56 50 57 44 60 58 44 46 36 
			   
			  2007  
			 Male 51 48 49 49 53 49 59 46 63 55 44 51 33 
			 Female 48 41 44 47 49 47 53 40 60 58 41 48 31 
			 Total 50 44 47 48 51 48 56 43 62 57 42 49 32 
			 (1) Disabled people in employment as a percentage of all disabled people of working age. (2) Men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59. (3 )Includes those who have a long-term disability which substantially limits their day-to-day activities and those who have a long-term disability which affects the kind or amount of work they might do.  Source: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Employment: Ethnic Groups

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the employment rate of  (a) male and  (b) female members of each ethnic minority was in each region in each quarter of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the employment rate of (a) male and (b) female members of each ethnic minority was in each region in each quarter of the last 10 years (174839).
	Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Employment: Lone Parents

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the employment rate of  (a) male and  (b) female lone parents was in each region in each quarter of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about lone parent employment rates. (174838)
	The information requested is given in the attached tables. The figures in the tables are estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the three month period ending in June of 1997, 1999 and 2001-2007. This information is not available for every quarter of each year. Comparable estimates are not currently available for 1998 or 2000.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Employment rate of working age( 1)  lone parents with dependent children( 2)  by region and sex, April to June 1997, 1999, 2001-07, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Percentage 
			   North East  North West  Yorkshire and Humberside  East Midlands  West Midlands  Eastern  London 
			  Lone fathers
			 1997 50 63 54 52 62 81 41 
			 1998 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 1999 43 62 50 62 63 70 36 
			 2000 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 2001 38 71 58 70 57 82 75 
			 2002 75 70 63 79 69 79 66 
			 2003 53 68 69 68 85 68 81 
			 2004 54 55 73 65 59 74 63 
			 2005 69 61 67 58 75 70 60 
			 2006 52 65 72 64 80 68 56 
			 2007 38 44 71 65 66 86 53 
			 
			  Lone mothers
			 1997 41 43 48 50 43 46 35 
			 1998 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 1999 46 43 49 50 49 52 39 
			 2000 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 2001 43 49 52 49 50 56 43 
			 2002 56 51 50 56 45 60 41 
			 2003 47 52 50 51 47 56 40 
			 2004 55 56 54 53 59 58 39 
			 2005 54 54 55 59 54 59 45 
			 2006 56 57 55 60 54 57 43 
			 2007 53 56 56 62 55 62 44 
			 
			  All lone parents
			 1997 42 45 48 50 45 51 36 
			 1998 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 1999 46 45 49 51 50 54 39 
			 2000 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 2001 43 50 52 52 51 59 45 
			 2002 58 53 51 59 47 62 43 
			 2003 47 54 52 53 49 57 43 
			 2004 55 56 56 55 59 60 41 
			 2005 54 54 56 59 56 60 46 
			 2006 56 58 57 60 56 58 44 
			 2007 52 55 58 62 56 63 45 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   South East  South West  Wales  Scotland  Northern Ireland  Total 
			  Lone fathers   
			 1997 60 54 65 47 (4) 58 
			 1998 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 1999 72 42 65 60 70 57 
			 2000 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 2001 61 75 45 63 42 64 
			 2002 78 59 50 59 78 68 
			 2003 78 65 59 57 59 69 
			 2004 72 71 67 67 49 66 
			 2005 86 75 71 68 55 69 
			 2006 74 63 75 85 64 69 
			 2007 81 73 49 76 45 64 
			
			  Lone mothers   
			 1997 48 48 44 38 42 43 
			 1998 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 1999 54 57 48 46 39 47 
			 2000 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 2001 55 63 45 53 46 50 
			 2002 59 63 49 55 43 52 
			 2003 58 63 59 57 40 51 
			 2004 59 62 49 55 47 53 
			 2005 60 66 55 55 48 55 
			 2006 62 58 60 57 51 55 
			 2007 67 64 53 59 53 56 
			
			  All lone parents   
			 1997 50 48 45 39 41 45 
			 1998 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 1999 56 55 49 47 42 48 
			 2000 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 2001 55 64 45 54 46 51 
			 2002 60 62 49 56 44 53 
			 2003 60 63 59 57  53 
			 2004 61 64 50 56 47 54 
			 2005 63 67 56 56 48 56 
			 2006 63 59 61 59 52 56 
			 2007 68 65 52 61 52 57 
			 (1) Men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59. (2) Dependent children are those aged under 16 and those aged or 16-18 who are never-married and in full-time education. (3) Comparable estimates for 1998 and 2000 are not currently available. (4) Sample size too small to provide an estimate  Note: As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.  Source: LFS Household datasets.

Employment: Older Workers

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the employment rate of  (a) men and  (b) women aged over 50 years was in each region in each quarter of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the employment rate of  (a) men and  (b) women aged over 50 was in each region in each quarter of the last 10 years. (174840)
	Not-seasonally adjusted estimates for regional employment rates by age are published each quarter in the Labour Market Statistics Regional First Releases. For figures since quarter 3 2005 please visit the following link;
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/OnlineProducts/LMS_regional.asp
	The attached table shows selected historical quarters and has been derived from the published tables. It shows the employment rate of men and women aged 50 to retirement age for the three month period ending June each year, from 1997 to 2007. These estimates are not-seasonally adjusted.
	Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Employment rate of men and women aged 50 to retirement age by region Not seasonally adjusted, April - June 1997 to 2007 
			   United Kingdom  North East  North West  Yorkshire and the Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East  London  South East  South West  Wales  Scotland  N orthern  Ireland 
			  Men (50-64)  
			 1997 67 55 62 62 70 72 73 68 75 72 59 63 61 
			 1999 69 54 63 63 72 71 75 69 79 74 59 62 62 
			 2001 70 59 65 68 72 69 77 69 78 76 59 67 61 
			 2002 70 56 64 70 73 71 77 69 78 73 62 64 63 
			 2003 72 61 70 70 77 73 77 70 78 76 64 70 66 
			 2004 72 58 68 71 74 71 76 72 79 75 66 70 67 
			 2005 72 60 65 71 73 73 78 75 79 75 63 72 66 
			 2006 73 65 68 72 75 75 77 72 78 75 67 69 66 
			 2007 73 68 69 69 72 73 79 70 78 76 66 74 64 
			  Women (50-59)  
			 1997 61 51 56 59 64 62 66 62 67 66 56 54 51 
			 1999 63 53 60 61 63 65 68 63 69 69 55 60 53 
			 2001 65 62 61 65 67 65 68 65 72 68 57 64 49 
			 2002 65 59 62 63 68 67 70 64 73 69 56 64 56 
			 2003 67 58 68 68 68 66 71 64 72 69 63 67 57 
			 2004 67 55 66 67 67 68 74 64 72 71 62 68 53 
			 2005 68 63 65 69 71 67 72 67 73 72 63 67 54 
			 2006 68 62 66 69 71 71 71 65 74 72 63 68 57 
			 2007 69 62 65 69 70 71 72 66 77 74 64 72 55 
			  Note:  Comparable data not available for 1998 and 2000.  Source:  ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Enterprise Investment Scheme

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the number of businesses that will be affected by the changes in the Enterprise Investment Scheme as a result of the changes in capital gains tax.

Jane Kennedy: The 2007 pre-Budget report announced a reform of the capital gains tax regime for individuals. The reliefs available under the Enterprise Investment Scheme remain unchanged. The value of EIS reliefs for investors, and thereby the impact on investee companies, will depend on individual circumstances.

Enterprise Investment Scheme

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies used the Enterprise Investment Scheme  (a) in 2005-06 and  (b) in 2006-07; and how many have used it in total.

Jane Kennedy: National statistics on the number of companies that have issued shares under the Enterprise Investment Scheme, each tax year and in total, are published by HM Revenue and Customs at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/ent_invest_scheme/table8-1.xls
	Published totals for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are currently incomplete because companies have up to three years to submit a return informing HM Revenue and Customs of a share issue under the scheme.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Greg Knight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce duty on petrol and diesel to reflect recent changes in oil prices.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 3 December 2007
	 : Budget 2007 pre-announced fuel duty rates for three years for environmental reasons, to fund public services and provide certainty alongside the other tax reforms in that Budget. The Government keeps all taxes under review and will continue to monitor developments in the oil market.

Excise Duties: Fuels

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will freeze the rate of fuel duty; what recent representations he has received about the issue; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: It is the Government's policy that fuel duty rates should rise each year at least in line with inflation as the UK seeks to reduce polluting emissions and fund public services. The 2007 Budget announced fuel duty rates for the next three years. The Treasury routinely receives a range of stakeholder views in the approach to the Budget and the Chancellor considers all relevant economic, environmental and social factors when deciding taxation policy.

Foreign Workers

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people born abroad have gained employment in the UK since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 7 January 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of people who were born abroad and have gained employment in the United Kingdom since 1997. I am replying in her absence.
	Between the second quarter of 1997 and the second quarter of 2007 there was an increase of 1.4 million foreign-born workers of working age in employment in the UK. The data to support this response was provided in PQ478 (Hansard ref 464 Column 1535) sent to Mr David Laws on 17th October 2007. This figure was also recently published in the Statistics Commission briefing 'Foreign Workers in the UK'
	http://www.statscom.org.uk/C_1238.aspx.
	The data for analysing migrant workers comes from the Labour Force Survey. The National Statistics method for estimating the number of migrant workers employed in the UK is based on the number of people at a given time who were born abroad, are of working age (16-64 for men, 16-59 for women), and in employment. This question has been answered on this basis.
	It is important to bear in mind that the Labour Force Survey (LFS) is not designed to cover everyone who is present in the UK. The survey may undercount the numbers of people who were born overseas.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Fuels: Prices

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reasons for recent increases in the price of  (a) heating oil,  (b) petrol and  (c) diesel; and if he will make statement.

Angela Eagle: The price of heating oil, petrol and diesel are influenced by a range of factors, including international crude oil prices, exchange rates, seasonal factors, level of stocks, refinery capacity, distribution costs and the degree of retail competition.
	International oil prices have been high and volatile in recent years, more than doubling between 2004 and 2007, and this has been reflected in the retail prices of all fuels. The rise in prices has been due to a range of factors, notably strong and resilient global oil demand growth, tight refining and production capacity and geopolitical uncertainty in several key oil-producing countries. In 2007 Q4, additional factors including oil supply shortages have also contributed to increased crude oil prices.
	Oil price is only one of these factors and there is typically a lag to changes in retail pump prices as retailers absorb temporary changes in oil prices in their profit margins.

Fuels: Prices

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the retail price of  (a) heating oil,  (b) petrol and  (c) diesel is accounted for by tax.

Angela Eagle: Liability to pay fuel duty only applies to fuel refiners or producers. This is because the point at which the duty is paid is when the finished product leaves the refinery or production plant. Fuel duty is set at a fixed monetary value per litre rather than as a percentage of the retail price.
	The duty rates that refiners and producers pay to HM Revenue and Customs were set out in Budget Note 53http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2007/bn53.htmpublished by HMRC on 21 March 2007. As retail prices may vary so fuel duty expressed as a percentage of the retail price may also vary.

Government Departments: Property

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1413W, on Government Departments: Property, how much  (a) total floor area and  (b) vacant space was recorded on the electronic property information mapping service database for each Government Department and agency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

HM Revenue and Customs' Data

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2007, to Question 172044 on HM Revenue and Customs' data, what guidance he has given to his officials on responding to parliamentary questions on data loss during the on going review.

Jane Kennedy: I have referred to the ongoing review where it is appropriate to do so.

Housing: Prices

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average  (a) total and  (b) percentage change in house prices was in each region in each month in 2007.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is available on the website of the Department of Communities and Local Government at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/table-590
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/table-592

Immigrants: France

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of French nationals living in the UK.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 7 January 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question concerning the number of French nationals living in the UK. I am replying in her absence. (172927)
	In the twelve months to December 2006, there were an estimated 118,000 French nationals living in the UK. This figure is based on the Annual Population Survey (APS) and, as with any sample survey, APS estimates are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Insurance Companies

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will initiate an investigation into the use of captive insurance companies by accountancy firms.

Angela Eagle: The Government have no plans to establish such a committee.

Landfill Tax

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much of the revenue generated from landfill tax revenue in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07 has been allocated to the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste programme;
	(2)  what the total amount of landfill tax revenue was in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07; and how much of that revenue in each year was allocated to his Department;
	(3)  what estimate has been made of the likely income from landfill tax in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09;
	(4)  how much of the income from landfill tax in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09 has been allocated to the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste programme.

Angela Eagle: Landfill tax revenues are published on the Uktradeinfo website and are available at
	http://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bulllandfill
	The value of the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste programme was 43 million in 2005-06 and 95 million in 2006-07.
	Forecast landfill tax receipts for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are published in Table B8 of the 2007 pre-Budget report and comprehensive spending review available at
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/F/9/pbr_csr07_annexb_305.pdf
	DEFRA has allocated 125 million to the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste programme in 2007-08.
	The comprehensive spending review allows for the continuation of funding for business resource efficiency. DEFRA has not yet announced allocations for 2008-09.

Migrant Workers

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) of 19 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 1353-55W, on migrant workers, how many of the 0.3 million additional UK born workers of working age in work between 1997 and 2007 had previously claimed benefit.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 18 December 2007
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about how many of the 0.3 million additional UK-born workers of working age in work between 1997 and 2007 had previously claimed benefits. (175299)
	The estimate of 0.3 million additional UK-born workers of working age between 1997 and 2007 was taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The LFS does not collect information on whether a person was claiming benefit before they entered employment.

National Insurance Contributions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people paid voluntary national insurance contributions in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: Latest available figures from 1995-96 are shown in the following table.
	National insurance class 3 contributions must normally be made before the end of the sixth tax year following the one for which they were due; but the time limit has been extended for the 1995-96 to 2001-02 tax years. Customers have up to 5 April 2010 to pay if they reach state pension age before 24 October 2004, or 5 April 2009 if they reach state pension age on or after 24 October 2004. Because of this the figures detailed are likely to increase, particularly the latest years.
	
		
			  In respect of tax year  Contributors (thousand )  National in surance class 3 contributions (  million) 
			 1995-96 322 60 
			 1996-97 406 93 
			 1997-98 367 92 
			 1998-99 356 91 
			 1999-00 335 90 
			 2000-01 304 82 
			 2001-02 285 78 
			 2002-03 310 78 
			 2003-04 276 71 
			 2004-05 213 58 
			 2005-06 110 39 
			 2006-07 73 24 
			  Note: Based on a 1 per cent. sample extracted from the National Insurance Recording System on 13 July 2007.

National Insurance Contributions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many computergenerated letters were sent out by HM Revenue and Customs notifying a shortfall in national insurance contributions for the 2005-06 tax year; and how many were sent in error.

Jane Kennedy: To date HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has sent 2.41 million letters to customers advising them of a potential shortfall in their National Insurance contributions for 2005-06. It expects to issue a further 340,000 in January 2008.
	A relatively small number of letters will have been sent in error but it is not possible to determine precisely how many.

National Insurance Contributions

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is payable in annual national insurance contributions by a person with gross annual earnings of  (a) 12,000,  (b) 24,000,  (c) 50,000 and  (d) 100,000 in 2007-08.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is as follows.
	
		
			  Earnings( 1)  Employee national insurance payable () 
			 12,000 745.80 
			 24,000 2,065.80 
			 50,000 3,410.64 
			 100,000 3,910.60 
			 (1 )Assumes that earnings are paid monthly and spread evenly throughout the year and the employee is in 'not contracted out' employment.

National Insurance Contributions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance his Department has provided to employers on whether employees should pay reduced national insurance contributions.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC does not provide specific guidance to employers on whether their employees should pay reduced national insurance contributions. The onus is on employees to give their employers a 'certificate of election' form. Without this certificate the employer must deduct full rate national insurance contributions.
	Employers are advised to have a procedure in place to ensure employees notify them if they lose the right to reduced rate contributions, (for instance because of divorce or they have cancelled their election). The CWG2 'Employer Further Guide to PAYE and NICs'
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/guidance/cwg2.pdf
	and the E13 'Day to Day Payroll' guidance
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/helpsheets/e13.pdf
	provides information on what employers should do where a married women or widow is entitled to pay reduced rate contributions.

National Insurance Contributions: Females

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women paid reduced national insurance contributions in each year since 1977.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1034W.

Oil

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies have been  (a) considered and  (b) evaluated by his Department on the economic implications of the peak oil phenomenon; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Government constantly monitor risks to the UK economy, including from energy-related developments, as detailed in the Energy White Paper (May 2007) and the Long-term Opportunities and Challenges for the UK (November 2006).
	Government are aware of a wide range of academic and industry studies which look at future world oil supplies, including the peak oil phenomenon, and meets regularly with experts to discuss this and other oil market issues. The Government's assessment is that the world's oil resources are sufficient to prevent total global oil production peaking before 2030. This is consistent with the assessment of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its 2007 World Energy Outlook (WEO).

Pay

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people earn more than the minimum wage but less than 6.75 per hour; how many of those work in the  (a) private and  (b) public sector; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking how many people earn more than the minimum wage but less than 6.75 per hour; how many of those work in the  (a) private and  (b) public sector. (174852)
	Levels of earnings are estimated from the annual survey of hours and earnings (ASHE), and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom.
	ASHE is not used to provide estimates of the numbers earning above the national minimum wage but less than 6.75 per hour, split by public and private sectors, but is used to make estimates of the proportions of employees in those categories. I attach a table providing that information.
	
		
			  Percentage of UK employees earning above NMW but below 6.75 
			   Percentage 
			 All Employees 18 
			 Public sector 11 
			 Private sector 22 
		
	
	Figures have been calculated using hourly earnings excluding overtime and include employees on adult rates whose pay for the pay-period was not affected by absence. They apply to earnings at April 2007.
	ASHE is not used to provide accurate estimates of the numbers earning above the national minimum wage but less than 6.75 per hour, split by public and private sectors, but is used to make estimates of the proportions of employees in those categories.

Prescription Drugs: Death

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people died from  (a) overdoses of prescription medicine,  (b) adverse interactions of prescription drugs,  (c) overdoses of herbal medicine and  (d) adverse interactions of herbal medicines in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people died from  (a) overdoses of prescription medicine,  (b) adverse interactions of prescription drugs,  (c) overdoses of herbal medicine and  (d) adverse interactions of herbal medicines in the last 12 month period for which figures are available. (175410)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports annually on the number of deaths in England and Wales from drug-related poisoning. These figures relate to the number of deaths from poisoning with any drug or medicine or certified as drug abuse or dependence. The latest report was published on 28 November in Health Statistics Quarterly 36(1) and contained figures for deaths registered between 2002 and 2006. In 2006, there were 2,570 deaths from drug-related poisoning. Although all substances mentioned on the death record are collated for these deaths, it is not possible to ascertain whether the deceased was prescribed the substances mentioned. It is also not possible to ascertain whether a substance was a herbal preparation.
	Deaths from adverse interactions to prescribed or herbal medicines are not available from ONS mortality records.
	(1) Office for National Statistics (2007) Deaths related to drug poisoning: England and Wales, 2002-2006. Health Statistics Quarterly 36, 66-72.

Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Tax Credit Office targets there are for responding to letters from right hon. and hon. Members; and how many letters received responses outside the target period in each  (a) month and  (b) quarter since 1 November 2006.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs has a target to respond to the majority of letters from right hon. and hon. Members within three weeks.
	The number of letters that were not sent a reply within three weeks for the period requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  MP Letters 
			   15 working days 
			  2006  
			 November 323 
			 December 364 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 305 
			 February 410 
			 March 434 
			 April 187 
			 May 219 
			 June 301 
			 July 437 
			 August 382 
			 September 392 
			 October 374 
		
	
	The TCO is working hard to improve the speed and quality of responses.
	As the hon. Member is aware, the TCO is currently dealing with an administrative problem which has resulted in some delays.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of sending letters to the families affected by the recent loss of data by HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Kennedy: For the year April 2006 to March 2007 HMRC handled approximately 300 million pieces of outgoing post at a cost of around 79 million.
	The cost of sending letters to the families affected by the recent loss of data by HMRC is estimated at 2.25 million including postage costs.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Poynter Review will interview Ministers in his Department as part of its work.

Jane Kennedy: The Poynter Review will interview a range of relevant parties over the course of its work.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what staff from  (a) HM Treasury,  (b) HM Revenue and Customs and  (c) other Government Departments are working on the Poynter Review.

Jane Kennedy: No Government officials are working directly on the review.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of  (a) deploying software and  (b) implementing procedures to encrypt all data sent out of HM Revenue and Customs on compact disc.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC is currently assessing the costs of delivering longer term solutions.
	On 20 November 2007 the Chancellor announced an independent review of HMRC's data handling procedures to be conducted by Kieran Poynter, the Chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
	The interim report was published on 17 December 2007 and is available in the Library of the House.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what control HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has over the access to and use of data after it has left HMRC's computers and been sent to  (a) the Student Loans Company,  (b) the National Audit Office and  (c) other institutions; and what records HMRC maintains of that use and access.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC protects its information by requiring bodies receiving data to seek HMRC consent before it may be used for certain purposes, or disclosed further. Controls may also be set out in memorandums of understanding, partnership agreements or other documents, defining the relationship between HMRC and the body receiving the data, including the specific procedures and protocols governing the use of information.
	Once data has left HMRC it is the responsibility of the receiving body, including the Student Loans Company or National Audit Office, to ensure that any further use complies with the law including the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

Revenue and Customs: Huddersfield

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the environmental implications of relocating Huddersfield HM Revenue and Customs staff from local offices to Bradford.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC is committed to reducing its environmental footprint and will in part cut its direct energy consumption through the reduction in the office space it uses, releasing buildings it no longer needs for others to use and improving the energy efficiency of those offices it retains.
	Where an office is earmarked for closure an assessment is made of the travel implications for current HMRC staff of journeys to alternative offices. For some, journeys may be longer or shorter but in no case is anyone required to relocate beyond reasonable daily travel.

Revenue and Customs: Huddersfield

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reimburse staff from HM Revenue and Customs Huddersfield for increased travel costs as a result of having to relocate to the Bradford branch.

Jane Kennedy: Where HM Revenue and Customs staff face increased travel costs as a result of being required to relocate permanently to another office they will be given payment towards their additional travel costs for three years.

Revenue and Customs: Location

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to help those employees of HM Revenue and Customs who are unable to relocate to a different branch to find alternative employment.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC expects that most staff from offices that are planned for closure will be able to relocate with their teams to a new office.
	Where it is agreed that it is not reasonable for individual members of staff, in their circumstances, to relocate, managers will discuss alternative options with them. These may include the provision of temporary work in their current location or a move to another business unit within HMRC. In addition HMRC will facilitate moves to other Government Departments where posts are available matching terms and conditions where they are not comparable to those in HMRC. A re-deployment workshop is also available for staff to help them maximise their prospects of finding alternative work, using a consultant to provide coaching on CV writing and interview techniques.
	HMRC will continue to work with staff, managers and the departmental trade unions to seek alternative ways to ensure that HMRC staff are offered every opportunity to continue to work in the Department.

Revenue and Customs: Pay

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether employees of HM Revenue and Customs involved in the collection of tax receive bonuses related directly or indirectly to the amount of tax revenue that they have been involved in collecting.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs employees do not receive payments related to the collection of revenue.

Revenue and Customs: Postal Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by HM Revenue and Customs on  (a) recorded post and  (b) non-recorded post in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: For the year April 2006 to March 2007, HMRC handled approximately 300 million pieces of outgoing post.
	HMRC expenditure on recorded and non-recorded post since 2005 is:
	
		
			   
			   Recorded  Non-recorded 
			 2005-06 513,706 78,563,963 
			 2006-07 670,014 78,582,763 
			 2007-08 (to 31 November 2007) 445,835 53,303,839

Sandstorm Report

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 27 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1300W, on the Sandstorm report, what plans he has to publish the Sandstorm report;
	(2)  to which  (a) individuals and  (b) organisations his Department provided access to (i) all and (ii) part of the Sandstorm report;
	(3)  with reference to the answer of 27 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1300W, on the Sandstorm report, when his Department expects to make a definitive reply to Professor Prem Sikka of the University of Essex's request of 13 March 2006 under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for publication of the Sandstorm report relating to the closure of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International; and what the reasons are for the time taken to respond.

Angela Eagle: A response has been provided to Professor Prem Sikka's request of 13 March 2006. The Treasury is currently considering this case in response to an internal review request made by Professor Sikka in September 2007 under the Freedom of Information Act. A decision will be reached shortly.

Security Clearances

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department's contracts with courier and postal service providers include provisions requiring  (a) security clearance for the employees of such providers and  (b) a check on residence entitlement in the UK.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 December 2007
	 HM Revenue and Customs postal and courier service providers, as part of their recruitment policies, carry out employment checks to establish  (a) criminal history record and  (b) entitlement to work in the UK.

Smuggling

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance is given to HM Revenue and Customs customs officers on the exercise of powers of arrest in relation to individuals from whom seizures of goods are made; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC is not able to seize goods illegally.
	HM Revenue and Customs officers engaged in operational customs work have powers of arrest under s.138 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 and s.24(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
	All officers involved in work areas that require them to exercise the power of arrest, including those involved in making arrests of individuals from whom seizures of illegal goods are made, receive training in arrest procedures, policy and relevant law as part of their core training for the role. In addition, standing instructions on arrest law and procedure are maintained as a source of reference for all officers involved in works areas that require them to exercise the power of arrest.
	Only staff who have received full training in relevant law and procedure are authorised to effect an arrest.

Smuggling

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many seizures of illegal goods HM Revenue and Customs customs officers made in  (a) ports,  (b) airports,  (c) rail terminals and  (d) other locations in each year since 2004.

Jane Kennedy: The number of seizures of illegal goods is published in the HMRC and previously HM Customs and Excise Annual report.
	The requested breakdown could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of  (a) the proportion of tobacco products consumed in the UK on which duty was not paid due to smuggling and fraud in each year since 1997 and  (b) the resultant loss of income to the Exchequer.

Angela Eagle: Estimates for the market share of tobacco products that are supplied to the UK through smuggling and fraud, and the associated revenue loss to the Exchequer, are available from 2000 to 2001.
	The latest estimates for the market share of illicitly supplied cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco and the associated revenue loss to the Exchequer (duty plus VAT) are estimated separately for 2001-02 to 2005-06 and are given in Measuring Indirect Tax Losses2007 published by HMRC in October 2007, which is available in the House of Commons Library. Estimates for 2000-01 are given in Measuring Indirect Tax Losses2006 which was published by HMRC in December 2006 and is also available in the House of Commons Library.

Social Security Benefits: Personal Records

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how long information on individuals who are claimants of any benefits or tax credits is stored after they cease to be claimants; and what measures are taken to destroy these records.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 29 November 2007
	 The child tax credit and working tax credit were introduced on 6 April 2003. HMRC currently hold records for tax credit claimants whether their claim has ceased or not, for making decisions on entitlement, administering payments; the recovery of overpayments and compliance purposes.
	Records for Child Benefit claimants are deleted five years after the award of the youngest child in the family has ceased.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people died of spinal muscular atrophy in each year since 2001.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people died of spinal muscular atrophy in each year from 2001. (175290)
	The table below contains numbers of deaths where the underlying cause was spinal muscular atrophy and related syndromes in England and Wales from 2001 to 2006, the latest year for which data are available.
	
		
			  Number of deaths from spinal muscular atrophy and related syndromes( 1)  in England and Wales, 2001 to 2006( 2) 
			   Number 
			 2001 1,479 
			 2002 1,518 
			 2003 1,520 
			 2004 1,551 
			 2005 1,616 
			 2006 1,702 
			 (1) The cause of death for spinal muscular atrophy and related conditions was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code G12. (2) Figures are for registrations of death in each calendar year.

Suicide

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides there were in each 10 year age cohort in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many suicides there were in each 10 year age cohort in each of the last 10 years. I am replying in her absence. (174841)
	The table below contains numbers of suicides by age group in England and Wales from 1997 to 2006, the latest year for which data are available.
	It is assumed that most deaths from injury/poisoning of undetermined intent at ages 15 and over are cases where the harm was self-inflicted but there was insufficient evidence to prove that the deceased deliberately intended to kill themselves. For this reason, ONS includes in its suicide statistics both those deaths from intentional self-harm, and those from 'injury or poisoning of undetermined intent.' The same cannot be assumed for deaths at ages under 15 and therefore deaths from injury or poisoning of undetermined intent are not included when examining suicide (intentional self-harm) in children. As there were no deaths in children aged under 13 with a suicide verdict for the period requested, the table shows the number of suicides in children aged 13 to 14, and the number of suicide and injury/poisoning of undetermined intent deaths in those aged 15 and over.
	
		
			  Number of deaths from suicide and injury/poisoning of undetermined intent, by age group, England and Wales, 1997 to 2006( 1) 
			   Suicide( 2)  Suicide( 2)  and injury /poisoning of undetermined intent( 3) 
			   Ages 13-14  15-24  25-34  35-44  45-54  55-64  65-74  75-84  85 and over 
			 1997 2 590 1,111 942 857 516 389 286 123 
			 1998 7 651 1,351 1,048 919 554 394 301 114 
			 1999 2 550 1,205 1,115 900 574 429 326 134 
			 2000 1 555 1,124 1,091 911 558 406 287 137 
			 2001 5 506 1,031 1,047 917 594 376 291 129 
			 2002 1 475 1,009 1,104 852 563 364 254 130 
			 2003 2 492 954 1,141 847 598 347 302 115 
			 2004 3 476 896 1,151 889 608 396 315 140 
			 2005 3 445 830 1,131 930 633 338 260 135 
			 2006 3 399 748 1,066 893 692 340 256 110 
			 (1 )Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (2) The cause of death for suicide was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959 for the years 1997 to 2000, and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84for 2001 onwards. (3) The cause of death for injury/poisoning of undetermined intent was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E980-E989 excluding E9 88.8 for the years 1997 to 2000, and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes Y10-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending for 2001 onwards.

Tax Allowances

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of people in the UK who are eligible to claim non-domicile tax status; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Information on how many individuals in the UK are eligible to claim non-domicile tax status is not available. However information is available on the numbers of individuals indicating non-domicile status on their self assessment (SA) returns. The last full year's data relates to 2004-05, in which there were 115,000 indicating non-domicile status. HMRC's live systems show the latest figure (as at August 2007) for 2005-06 is 114,000 individuals.

Tax Allowances: Motor Vehicles

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a fiscally-neutral scheme to  (a) reward and  (b) penalise manufacturers of motor vehicles according to vehicle  (i) fuel efficiency and  (ii) carbon dioxide emissions.

Angela Eagle: The Government have reformed Vehicle Excise Duty to provide fiscal incentives to consumers to choose lower emissions vehicles by introducing CO2 emissions graduated rates for cars, a discount rate for early registered lower emissions vans and discount rates for reduced pollution buses and heavy good vehicles. Budget 2007 changes to Vehicle Excise Duty built on 2006 reforms, further sharpening the environmental signals to motorists to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles and supporting development of the low-carbon market. The Government have also reformed Company Car Tax to provide further fiscal incentives for cleaner lower emissions choices.
	In addition the UK will engage fully in negotiations on the European Commission's proposal to set vehicle manufacturers mandatory targets to reduce average CO2 emissions from new cars. The Chancellor keeps all taxation policy under review as part of the Budget process.

Tax Havens

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research on the levels of use of offshore tax havens by UK banks and the economic effects of that use.

Jane Kennedy: There are no plans to commission research on the levels of use of offshore tax havens by UK banks and the economic effects of that use.

Tax Yields

Michael Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of total tax revenue came from  (a) income tax,  (b) indirect taxes,  (c) business taxes,  (d) capital taxes and  (e) other taxes in each year since 1980.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 10 December 2007
	 The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of total tax revenue came from (a) income tax, (b) indirect taxes, (c) business taxes, (d) capital taxes and (e) other taxes in each year since 1980. (172983)
	Detailed statistics about types of tax payable by UK residents to general government and the European Union for calendar years are published on a regular basis in table 11.1 of the annual ONS publication United Kingdom National Accounts (The Blue Book). The Blue Book was last published in June. However, the table was updated in the monthly Public Sector Finances First Release, on both calendar year and financial year bases, published on 20 July. Differences between the figures in the Blue Book and Public Sector Finances are a result of differing revisions policies for the National Accounts and the Public Sector Finances; the latter are the more up to date. The table is not a regular feature of the First Release, although most of the figures themselves are updated every month. The data in the table below are consistent with the dataset for the Public Sector Finances published on 20 November 2007.
	In answering this question total tax revenue has been defined consistently with the Total taxes and social contributions series in table 11.1. Similarly, Indirect taxes have been defined as Taxes on products and imports, and business taxes as Production taxes other than on products plus non-household Taxes on Income. The financial year has been used because the UK adopts this as its fiscal base.
	
		
			   A  B  C  D  E 
			 1979-80 30.9 28.1 18.4 0.6 5.5 
			 1980-81 30.6 27.4 18.8 0.6 5.9 
			 1981-82 30.1 27.3 19.6 0.9 6.0 
			 1982-83 28.9 27.8 19.5 0.5 6.4 
			 1983-84 28.4 28.9 18.3 0.6 5.9 
			 1984-85 27.3 30.2 18.7 0.6 5.8 
			 1985-86 27.6 29.4 18.5 0.7 6.1 
			 1986-87 27.4 31.0 16.5 0.7 6.4 
			 1987-88 27.0 30.9 17.7 0.7 6.3 
			 1988-89 26.4 30.9 17.8 0.6 6.5 
			 1989-90 27.5 30.0 17.8 0.6 6.7 
			 1990-91 28.6 29.9 16.2 0.6 7.7 
			 1991-92 31.0 32.2 13.8 0.6 5.4 
			 1992-93 30.4 32.9 12.6 0.6 6.2 
			 1993-94 29.8 33.8 11.7 0.6 5.9 
			 1994-95 29.3 33.7 12.8 0.6 5.8 
			 1995-96 28.9 33.7 13.6 0.6 5.7 
			 1996-97 27.5 33.7 15.2 0.6 5.8 
			 1997-98 27.2 33.2 16.1 0.6 5.7 
			 1998-99 28.0 32.9 15.6 0.6 5.8 
			 1999-2000 28.2 33.2 15.6 0.6 5.8 
			 2000-01 29.2 32.4 15.0 0.6 5.7 
			 2001-02 29.2 32.5 14.7 0.6 6.1 
			 2002-03 29.2 33.4 13.6 0.6 6.4 
			 2003-04 27.8 33.5 12.8 0.6 6.6 
			 2004-05 28.1 32.5 13.5 0.7 6.6 
			 2005-06 28.3 31.1 15.0 0.7 6.5 
			 2006-07 28.5 31.0 15.1 0.7 6.3 
			 A. Household income taxes as a percentage of total taxes and social contributions payable by UK residents. B. Taxes on products and imports as a percentage of total taxes and social contributions payable by UK residents. C. Production taxes other than on products plus non-household Taxes on Income as a percentage of total taxes and social contributions payable by UK residents. D. Capital taxes as a percentage of total taxes and social contributions payable by UK residents.  E. Other taxes as a percentage of total taxes and social contributions payable by UK residents.

Taxation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's estimate of the tax gap is; and what model his Department uses to estimate the gap.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs do not produce estimates for the total tax gap. The most recent estimate of the indirect tax gap is given in Measuring Indirect Tax Losses2007, published by HMRC in October 2007 and is available in the House of Commons Library.
	There are currently no reliable estimates for the direct tax gap. However, HMRC published a discussion paper on the methodologies for estimating elements of the direct tax gap in October 2007. Developing Methodologies for Measuring Direct Losses is also available in the House of Commons Library.

Taxation: Domicil

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assumptions he made in estimating the revenue raised from modernisation of residence and domicile taxation in table B4, page 164 of the pre-Budget report, about  (a) the number of non-domiciles who would pay the new 30,000 charge,  (b) the gain from non-domiciles who choose to bring their tax affairs on-shore and  (c) other factors, for (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

Jane Kennedy: The assumptions underpinning the proposed tax charge on remittance basis users, and the resulting figures, are set out in the consultation document 'Paying a Fairer Share: a consultation on residence and Domicile' which was published on 6 December.

Taxation: Pensioners

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people over the age of 65 were overtaxed by HM Revenue and Customs and the Inland Revenue in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: Details of numbers of individuals who have overpaid are not available by age group.

Tobacco: Price Elasticity

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the price elasticity of demand for tobacco.

Angela Eagle: The latest assessment is in GES Working Paper 150 The Demand for Tobacco Products in the UK on the HMRC website.

Unpaid Taxes: Pensioners

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people over the age of 65 were issued bills for unpaid tax in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs do not maintain details of unpaid tax for different age groups.

Voluntary Organisations: Finance

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he plans to have with his ministerial counterparts in the devolved institutions in Great Britain and Northern Ireland on funding over the next three-year comprehensive spending review period for the voluntary and community sector, with particular reference to projects to improve disadvantaged areas judged to be at risk of social exclusion.

Andy Burnham: In devolved areas of policy, it is for the devolved Administrations to determine their own priorities and policies within their block budgets announced in the 2007 comprehensive spending review.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overseas Residence

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likelihood of tax credit claimants not telling HM Revenue and Customs when they take up residence abroad; how many tax credit claims were found to be invalid because a claimant has gone abroad in the latest period for which figures are available; what research has been carried out into the effectiveness of checks to protect against wrong or fraudulent claims by workers who have gone abroad; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.
	HM Revenue and Customs has robust strategies in place for tackling non-compliance including a range of checks throughout the life of each claim. And it continually refines and develops its processes to ensure it can tackle those who seek to claim awards to which they are not entitled, and respond quickly when new compliance risks are identified.